Can you have a blood clot for years and not know it?

DVT often goes undetected, because symptoms, such as pain or swelling in the leg, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing and dizziness, are missed or dismissed as minor. And in some cases, there are no symptoms until it is too late.

Can blood clots go undetected for years?

One of the problems in diagnosing DVT is that many people develop the condition without any symptoms. This usually makes the condition go undetected for a very long time. Individuals who do begin to experience DVT symptoms may experience the following issues: Pain – A common symptom for DVT is pain the calf.

Can you have a blood clot for years?

Signs of the condition, like skin ulcers on your leg or swelling, can be painful or uncomfortable. They can happen a few months or up to 2 years after you have DVT. They could last for years or stick around for good.

How long can a blood clot go untreated?

It is important to start treatment right away for DVT. It takes about 3 to 6 months for a blood clot to go away.

Can you have a blood clot for months and not know it?

It is also possible a blood clot will not cause any apparent symptoms. There is no way for you to know if your symptoms are the result of a blood clot or another issue.

Blood Clots – Know Your Risks and Get Your Blood Pumping

What are the 10 signs of a blood clot?

What are the first signs of a blood clot?

What happens when a blood clot goes undetected?

DVT often goes undetected, because symptoms, such as pain or swelling in the leg, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing and dizziness, are missed or dismissed as minor. And in some cases, there are no symptoms until it is too late.

Can you have a PE and not know it?

Half the people who have pulmonary embolism have no symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they can include shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing up blood. Symptoms of a blood clot include warmth, swelling, pain, tenderness and redness of the leg.

What happens if you ignore a blood clot in your leg?

It's a clump of cells and protein in your blood. A clot helps slow bleeding when you're injured. It usually dissolves as you heal. But if it doesn't, or if it forms when it's not needed, it can clog up or completely block a blood vessel.

How long can you live with blood clots?

The overall 1-day survival after venous thromboembolism was 77.7%, but 1-day survival for patients with deep vein thrombosis alone was 97.0% compared with 63.6% for those with pulmonary embolism (Table 1).

What are the warning signs of deep vein thrombosis?

What is an old blood clot?

Chronic DVT

A clot that is over one to two months old is called "chronic." The clot becomes harder and scars the vein. As a result of this process, the vein becomes much smaller and does not allow blood to flow through effectively.

Can a blood clot lay dormant?

While some clots may lay dormant and undiagnosed for years, even decades, there are still ways to reduce your risk of developing clots. They include maintaining a healthy lifestyle – that includes avoiding fatty and processed foods, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep.

What age is common for blood clots?

Blood clots become more common as people get older, especially when they are over age 65. Long hospital stays, surgeries and trauma may significantly increase your risk of blood clots.

Can a chest xray show blood clots?

Blood clots do not show up on an X-ray, but it can see other things such as fluid or pneumonia on the lungs that can explain your symptoms. A normal chest X-ray with unexplained low blood oxygen level, increases the suspicion that you have a pulmonary embolism.

What does PE pain feel like?

You may feel like you're having a heart attack. The pain is often sharp and felt when you breathe in deeply, often stopping you from being able to take a deep breath. It can also be felt when you cough, bend or stoop.

How do blood clots feel?

Symptoms include: leg pain or discomfort that may feel like a pulled muscle, tightness, cramping or soreness. swelling in the affected leg. redness or discoloration of the sore spot.

How does a DR check for blood clots?

Duplex ultrasonography is an imaging test that uses sound waves to look at the flow of blood in the veins. It can detect blockages or blood clots in the deep veins. It is the standard imaging test to diagnose DVT. A D-dimer blood test measures a substance in the blood that is released when a clot breaks up.

What can be mistaken for a blood clot?

Can a blood test detect a blood clot?

A D-dimer test is used to find out if you have a blood clotting disorder. These disorders include: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that's deep inside a vein. These clots usually affect the lower legs, but they can also happen in other parts of the body.

Can you have a pulmonary embolism for months?

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is caused by a blood clot that gets stuck in an artery in your lungs. That blockage can damage your lungs and hurt other organs if they don't get enough oxygen. It's a serious condition, and recovery can take weeks or months.

Does a blood clot in the leg hurt constantly?

A DVT blood clot can cause a calf cramp that feels a lot like a charley horse. Like leg pain, the cramping sensation with DVT will persist and even worsen with time.

Can blood clot be missed?

Far too often, doctors and heart specialists fail to detect the presence of conditions that could indicate the presence of a blood clot and that misdiagnosis can result in a stroke, a heart attack or much worse.

How long can you live with blood clots in your lungs?

Medium to Long Term

After the high-risk period has elapsed (roughly one week), blood clots in your lung will need months or years to completely resolve. You may develop pulmonary hypertension with life-long implications, including shortness of breath and exercise intolerance. Have specific questions?