Signs of Blood Clots in Feet

Anywhere there are veins and arteries, internal blood clots can and do form. This includes the feet. Blood clots are not uncommon in the foot, just as they are not uncommon in the lower leg and calf. Sometimes a foot pain is more than just pain--it's the sign of a blood clot, and since blood clots can sometimes be fatal or lead to a heart attack or stroke, it is very important to have them diagnosed.

Definition of an Internal Blood Clot

Blood clotting is a process in which platelets and red blood cells along fibrin, a type of protein, form a clump to stop bleeding after a blood vessel has been injured. Scabbing occurs when this process happens at the surface of the skin. Internal clotting, or clotting that takes place inside a blood vessel, can be dangerous. Although most clots that form will be dissolved by the body naturally, one that continues to form inside a vein or artery can get to to point that it blocks blood flow.

Blood Clots in the Feet

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Blood clots in the feet occur for much the same reasons that they do in any other part of the body. Obesity, activity level, genetic factors, viral infections, recent surgery, smoking, age--all of these factors can contribute to the formation of a blood clot. Blood clots in the feet have a similar risk factor to developing clots in the legs. The main concern is that it will break free in the vein in the foot where it formed and will travel to arteries in other parts of the body such as:

• stroke
  
• pulmonary embolism
  
• heart attack

Dangers of a Blood Clot

When blood clots internally, inside a vein or artery, it can block blood flow. Depending on where this occurs in the body, it can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Blood clots can break off from where they originally form and travel to other parts of the body, such as the heart, brain or lungs. A blood clot blocking an artery in the lung leads to pulmonary embolism, which sometimes can prove fatal.

Symptoms of Blood Clots in the Feet

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Blood clots in the feet can cause redness or swelling of the feet, in addition to numbness of the affected foot. A throbbing pain in the foot that does not go away with rest may also be a sign of a blood clot that has formed in the foot. If you experience a sharp, shooting pain when you flex your foot, this may also be a sign of a blood clot. There may also be a widening of the veins at the surface of the foot.

Treatment and Prevention of Blood Clots

Blood thinner can be taken to prevent blood clots from forming. Aspirin is an over-the-counter blood thinner. Once a blood clot is confirmed by a doctor, a shot of the drug Heparin is often administered. Another prescription drug to eliminate blood clots is Warfarin, which is taken orally. Always consult your doctor before beginning any drug regimen.