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- $Unique_ID{BRK01495}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{How Serious is a Clot in the Leg Vein?}
- $Subject{clot blood leg vein clotting thrombosis swelling sensation warmth
- tenderness venous blue skin pallor gangrenous limb clots vessel vessels legs
- veins gangrene limbs capillary capillaries}
- $Volume{D-4}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- How Serious is a Clot in the Leg Vein?
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- QUESTION: My doctor has me scared because of a clot in my leg vein. While I
- don't want to neglect anything important, I don't need additional doctor's
- bills either. Just how serious is this condition?
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-
- ANSWER: Any clotting of the blood (thrombosis) in any part of your body is
- sufficiently serious to make you disrupt your daily routine and give it your
- full and undivided attention.
- Usually blood clots in the leg are accompanied by swelling, a sensation
- of warmth, and tenderness to the touch. All these symptoms can be treated
- pharmacologically with medications. But if the warm feeling turns to cold,
- the swelling grows to massive proportions, and the pain becomes unbearable,
- immediate surgical intervention might be called for. These signs herald a
- more serious form of thrombosis, which involves the entire venous system of
- your leg. In such cases, the oxygen present in the capillary blood drops, the
- skin takes on a blue pallor, and the entire limb can become gangrenous.
- Hopefully, I've made my message clear, without sounding like an alarmist.
- Follow your doctor's advice, consult him regularly, and don't take any chances
- with thrombosis. Proper and timely treatment can do much to prevent unwanted
- complications, and get you back on your feet.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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-