What does a blood clot feel like in arm

Depending on where in the body they occur, blood clots can cause a range of symptoms from pain to numbness, from coolness to warmth. These symptoms also won’t be the same in everyone. And sometimes, there won’t be any symptoms at all.

Blood clots in the leg can cause redness or even pale skin. Blood clots in the brain can cause difficulty walking and numbness or weakness on just one side of the body. Blood clots in the lungs can cause sudden shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, and coughing. Blood clots in the abdomen can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloating. Blood clots in the heart can cause chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, and indigestion.

Blood clots are also different depending if they develop in a vein (venous) or an artery (arterial). Venous clots may take longer to build up, while arterial clots cause symptoms immediately.

It’s important to pay attention to the signs of potential blood clots and to seek treatment as soon as possible because blood clots can be dangerous to your health.

What Are the Signs of a Blood Clot in the Leg or Arm (Deep Vein Thrombosis)?

If a blood clot in the arm or leg is small enough, you may not have any symptoms. With a large clot, your entire leg might swell. The pain may feel like a pulled muscle or a “Charlie horse.”

The most common place for blood clots is the lower leg. It’s unusual to have clots in both arms or both legs at once. So, if you experience symptoms in only one leg or arm, they may indicate a blood clot.

A clot in your arm or leg may not be dangerous there, but it poses a risk of breaking off and lodging in your lungs. This is known as a pulmonary embolism and can be fatal.

Signs of a blood clot in the arm and leg include:

• Pain
• Redness or bluish skin coloration
• Swelling
• Pale color
• Coolness to the touch
• Tenderness
• Increased warmth in the part of the limb that’s swollen or hurting
• Loss of feeling or numbness in the limb

What Are the Signs of a Blood Clot in the Brain?

A blood clot on or in the brain is diagnosed through an MRI or CT scan. A blood clot in the brain can block blood flow, causing a stroke.

But not every blood clot in the brain results in a stroke. And not all strokes are caused by blood clots. About 20 percent of strokes are caused by aneurysms, which are bulges or weakness in the wall of a blood vessel.

Signs of a blood clot on or in the brain include:

• Trouble speaking
• Impaired vision
• Numbness or weakness on one side of the body or face
• Trouble walking
• Inability to think clearly or confusion
• Seizures
• Dizziness
• Severe headache

What Are the Signs of a Blood Clot in the Lungs (Pulmonary Embolism)?

Clots in the veins of the legs or arms can break off and travel to the lung. The resulting pulmonary embolism can cause organ damage or leave to death.

Seniors are at increased risk for pulmonary embolism. This is partly because they are less mobile.

Symptoms of a blood clot in the lungs include:

• Chest pain that may be short and stabbing and may get worse with each breath
• Sudden shortness of breath
• Rapid pulse
• Rapid breathing
• Unexplained coughing possibly with bloody mucus

What Are the Signs of a Blood Clot in the Abdomen?

Blood clots in the lungs can cause sudden shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, and coughing. Blood clots in the abdomen can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloating. Blood clots in the heart can cause chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, and indigestion.

Researchers in Denmark found that certain abdominal blood clots may be a sign of undiagnosed cancer. Abdominal blood clots may also be more likely in people with medical conditions that cause fluid buildup or swelling in the abdomen.

Abdominal blood clots can cause the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain (especially if it gets worse after eating or over time)
• Nausea
• Blood in stool
• Bloating
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Buildup of abdominal fluid

What Are the Signs of a Blood Clot in the Coronary Artery?

A blood clot in or near the heart can cause a heart attack, according to the World Heart Federation. Women may have different symptoms of heart attacks than men. Women’s symptoms may be less specific.

Blood clots in the coronary artery cause the following symptoms:

• Extreme chest pain that may radiate to the left part of your jaw, shoulder and arm
• Chest pressure or heaviness
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Indigestion
• Sweating

When to Go to the Doctor for a Blood Clot

See your doctor right away whenever you think you may have symptoms a blood clot. The more quickly it is diagnosed, the better your chances of avoiding permanent harm or death. The diagnosis is usually made using a combination of symptoms, physical examination, and an imaging test.

A doctor may prescribe an anticoagulant, or blood thinner, to prevent new blood clots and keep existing clots from growing. Names of blood thinners include dabigatran (Pradaxa), warfarin (Coumadin), apixaban (Eliquis) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto).

For people who cannot take blood thinners, doctors may recommend an IVC filter. These devices are also used in patients recovering from accidents and surgeries when there is a high risk of potentially fatal lung clots.

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has been linked to a very rare blood-clotting disorder called 'thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome’ (TTS). You can read about it here. If you're experiencing any symptoms following a COVID-19 vaccination, you can use the COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effect Checker.

Thousands of Australians develop a blood clot in their veins. Most blood clots won’t harm you, but there is a risk they will move through your body and affect your heart, lungs or brain. This can be life threatening, so it’s important to know how to recognise a blood clot.

What are blood clots?

Blood clots are when parts of your blood thicken, forming a semi-solid mass inside a vein. This can happen when:

• the blood starts to clot more easily (for example, when you’re ill)
• there are changes to the wall of the vein (for example, if you sit still for a long time)
• there are changes in how the blood flows

Blood clots can form in veins anywhere in the body, including in the small veins under your skin or in the veins deep inside your body. The medical name for a blood clot is a ‘venous thromboembolism’.

Your blood naturally clots so you don’t lose too much blood if you are injured. Blood clotting becomes a problem when it blocks your blood from flowing properly.

Blood clots can be fatal if they aren’t treated. They can lead to a stroke, heart attack or pulmonary embolism. If you think you may have a blood clot, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Who is at risk of blood clots?

Usually a combination of things leads to a blood clot. You are more likely to develop a blood clot if:

• you don’t move around for a long period of time (for example, if you are on a long-haul flight)
• you aren’t moving because you have had surgery
• you aren’t moving due to an injury, especially a leg injury
• you have had a blood clot before
• you have a blood disorder or other condition that makes clotting more likely

Other factors that increase the risk of a blood clot include:

What are the types of blood clot and their symptoms?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): A DVT develops when a blood clot forms in one of the veins deep inside your body. They mostly occur in the legs, but you can get a DVT anywhere in your body. The most common symptom is pain and swelling in the affected area, usually your calf or thigh. Sometimes there are no symptoms.

Blood clot in the brain: A blood clot in the brain is called a stroke. The symptoms of a stroke include weakness or drooping in the face, arm or leg, difficulty speaking or understanding, dizziness, blurred vision, severe headache and difficulty swallowing. If you or someone else experiences the signs of stroke, no matter how long they last, call triple zero (000) immediately and ask for an ambulance.

Blood clot in the heart: A blood clot in the heart leads to a heart attack. The symptoms of a heart attack can include chest pain (as though your chest is being pressed or squeezed by a heavy object), shortness of breath, feeling weak and light-headed, nausea, a cold sweat, and feeling anxious. If you have any of these symptoms, or if they get worse quickly or last longer than 10 minutes, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

Blood clot in the lungs: If the blood clot travels to your lungs, it’s called a pulmonary embolism. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood, sweating, rapid heartbeat, feeling dizzy and clammy skin. A major pulmonary embolism can be fatal. If you think you may have a pulmonary embolism, go to the nearest emergency department or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

Blood clot in the leg or arm: The most common signs of a blood clot are swelling, tenderness, redness and a warm feeling around the area of the clot. It’s more likely to be a clot if you have these symptoms in just one arm or leg.

Blood clot in the stomach: Symptoms include severe pain and swelling.

How are blood clots diagnosed?

If you think you may have a blood clot, it’s important to see a doctor right away. They will talk to you about what has happened recently and will likely order an ultrasound or a CT scan to view the clot.

You may also have a blood test to look for signs that your blood is clotting more than it should.

How are blood clots treated?

Treatment of a blood clot will depend on where the clot is located. The most common treatment for blood clots is to make your blood thinner using medicines. These medicines include warfarin to stop the blood clot from growing larger and to prevent new clots from forming. You will need to take the medicine for several months and see your doctor regularly to check that it’s working.

Sometimes blood clots are treated with a medicine or procedure to dissolve the clot or to prevent part of it from breaking up and travelling to the lungs, heart or brain.

If you have a DVT, you may be advised to wear compression stockings to help with symptoms and improve the blood flow in your legs.

If you have a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism, you will need to have emergency treatment in hospital.

Last reviewed: April 2021