Blood clots on the arm, which in the field of medicine are called thrombophlebitis, are not very common, which cannot be said about those ailments that affect the legs. The causes of the disease are the blockage of the venous lumen. Blood clots on the arm can affect both superficial and deep veins. In this article you can learn about how to recognize a serious ailment, what are the reasons for its development, as well as how to deal with it.
Causes of blood clots on the arm
Thrombophlebitis of the upper extremities is a vein disease that is triggered by the inflammatory process of vascular tissues. In addition, blood clots on the arm are the beginning of a thrombus formation process that blocks blood flow by blocking venous lumens. There is also a problem with the movement of blood throughout the body. A blood clot on the arm, the photo of which is presented in our article, can be located in different places. For example, a blood clot can be seen under the clavicle in the chest area, on the surface of the veins in the arms, as well as in the deep trunks of the venous vessels of the upper extremities.
Symptoms of a blood clot in the hand can manifest themselves after various inflammations that have a focal location. In some cases, the cause is a general inflammatory process that affects the entire body of the patient.
Thrombosis develops after a long stagnation of venous blood fluid, which is formed due to abundant accumulation of tissues with varicose veins, in the absence of an active lifestyle, and also with obesity.
In addition to all this, the development of the disease can occur as a result of trauma to the vessels. This should include accidents, injuries in the event of an incorrect injection.
It should be noted that the density of blood affects the development of the disease. Viscous fluid is retained in a vessel with rigid vein walls. Blood becomes thick during pregnancy, as well as with elevated sugar levels. A similar symptom can occur in the case of a hereditary disease.
Thus, we can say that thrombosis is based on 3 main signs:
- Slow blood circulation.
- Damage to the walls of the venous vessel.
- Blood coagulation too fast.
Predisposing factors
We continue to consider the causes and signs of a blood clot in the hand. Doctors also highlight some factors that are considered provocative. These include:
- The inflammatory process that develops after the injection. As a rule, it appears in the case of long and regular intravenous droppers, catheters, injections, as well as an incorrectly delivered injection. These procedures are considered one of the main factors provoking venous pathology. Quite often, such an ailment is diagnosed in those patients who take drugs.
- Strong physical activity can lead to a special kind of ailment called force thrombosis. The disease is localized in deep veins. It is based under the collarbone, as well as in the armpit area.
Other factors that influence the development of the disease include:
- Complications during childbirth.
- Genetic predisposition.
- An allergic reaction to medications.
- Surgical intervention.
- Fixing a limb in the same position for a long time.
- Sepsis.
- Paralysis after a stroke.
- Bite of a blood-sucking insect.
- Diseases of blood vessels and heart.
- Oral contraceptives.
- Obesity.
- Mature age.
The appearance of thrombosis of the upper extremities is often observed after an infectious type of illness that provokes dehydration. If there is too little fluid in the human body, then the blood thickens, which can lead to stagnation and blockage of the lumen of the veins.
Symptoms and signs of a blood clot in the hand
The first symptoms of the disease may vary. It will depend on which particular veins were affected, as well as on the characteristics of the human body. Quite often, the disease proceeds as a background process of varicose veins. So, let's take a closer look at how a blood clot on a hand looks, what symptoms and signs it is accompanied by.
Superficial veins
It will be quite simple to recognize surface-based thrombophlebitis. For this, it is only necessary to visually inspect the affected area, to feel it. The first signs of a blood clot in the hand will be as follows:
- Sensation of soreness, which can be localized even in the fingers.
- Swelling.
- Fever.
- Compaction of blood vessels in red and blue.
- Movable joints.
- Hand functions are not damaged.
If the disease is accompanied by the formation of a bloody clot, then the symptomatology becomes most pronounced. These signs of a blood clot in a vein on the arm should include:
- Numbness of the limbs.
- The skin becomes cyanotic.
- There is no sensitivity in any areas of the hand, including fingers.
- The death of tissues.
- Sealing of the lymph nodes.
If the stage of the disease is acute, then the pain syndrome will be more severe. Over time, pain passes, but during palpation it will persist.
Deep veins
Thrombosis can affect deep-seated veins. In this case, the first signs and symptoms of a blood clot in the arm will be slightly different. The disease manifests itself after prolonged therapy with medications, with bites of blood-sucking insects, as well as in case of injury. The main signs of the disease include:
- Acute pain.
- Blue and swollen.
- Numbness.
All these signs are sudden, they develop quite quickly, and are also accompanied by loss of sensation and necrosis. A network of vessels, which can be seen under the skin, will speak about the state of the blood flow. Symptoms can progress over several days, and the pain will be most pronounced during exertion. In the case of thrombophlebitis of the upper extremities, signs appear not only at the very beginning of the disease, but will also spread throughout the surface of the hands.
Patients begin to complain of heaviness, endless fatigue. In this case, you should immediately seek help from a specialist in order to protect yourself from a possible complication - tissue necrosis.
Danger of illness
When the first symptoms appear, be sure to contact the clinic for help. The danger of the disease will be that migratory thrombosis may develop. This thrombosis is characterized by the sudden formation of blood clots, which can lead to blockage of the arteries.
Diagnostics
First of all, thrombophlebitis is diagnosed with a visual examination by a specialist. For this, the affected area is palpated, as a result of which the location of the blood clots is determined. Also, the doctor may orally examine the presence of other signs and symptoms of the disease. In order to make a specific and correct diagnosis, to prescribe effective treatment, the patient should undergo some studies:
- General blood analysis.
- Analysis of urine.
- Differential blood test for the detection of a blood clot in a vein.
- Ultrasound angiography, due to which the ability of blood to circulate, is determined, as well as the state of the vessels.
- To determine the force of vascular blockage, phlebography is performed.
In addition, the specialist can periodically prescribe the patient an ultrasound diagnosis of blood vessels, an ECG, as well as a contrast x-ray.
Therapy Features
Therapy is aimed at relieving symptoms, reducing the risk of complications, as well as eliminating the main source of the development of the disease. With thrombophlebitis of the hands, two methods of therapy are used, which should include conservative and surgical treatment. Let's consider them separately.
Drug treatment
To begin with, therapy is carried out with the help of medications. For this, the specialist prescribes antibacterial non-steroidal drugs to the patient in order to relieve the inflammatory process.
If the blood consistency is very thick, then the doctor prescribes thinning tablets. To relieve pain, both painkillers and external gels are prescribed.
Dosage will be prescribed by a specialist. In parallel with this, the patient is prescribed bed rest, as well as a special diet. You will also have to completely abandon smoking, drinking alcohol.
Conservative therapy involves the use of compression hosiery, with which the limb is rewound. Physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed in the kit.
Surgical intervention
If the disease has passed into a neglected form, then surgery is performed to eliminate it. For this, the specialist prescribes sclerosis of the vein trunk, as well as thrombectomy. Less often in the vein on the arm cava filters stop. The latter allow you to split and catch detached blood clots.
Quite often, conservative therapy and surgical intervention are used in combination. This combination allows you to quickly and effectively overcome such an ailment as thrombophlebitis of the hands, and also minimize the likelihood of relapse and complications.
Prevention
To prevent the development of the disease, some preventive measures should be followed. People at risk of developing this disease should follow these rules:
- Lead the right way of life.
- Exercise regularly.
- Often walk in the fresh air.
- Follow the principles of proper nutrition.
- Visit specialists regularly for monitoring and diagnostic purposes.
At the same time, some patients prefer to use alternative medicine methods. To do this, you can drink cranberry, rosehip and St. John's wort decoctions.
It will not be superfluous to develop your own set of therapeutic physical exercises. To do this, you should consult a doctor who should suggest the permissible degree of load for a particular case, as well as adjust the list of physical exercises based on the individual characteristics of the body.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that thrombophlebitis of the upper extremities is a very dangerous disease. That is why, at the first symptoms and signs of an ailment, you should immediately contact the clinic.