How to Get Rid of a Blood Clot

Blood clots are clumps of blood that can collect in different areas of the body and cause the blood to coagulate. If a blood clot forms within a blood vessel or the heart, it is referred to as a thrombus. This condition can prove serious if the thrombus travels to another area of the body, a disorder referred to as an embolism. If you are concerned about the health effects, speak to a doctor about how to get rid of a blood clot.

Things You'll Need

• Anticoagulant
• Compression products
• Surgery (possible)

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Instructions

• 1

  Make an appointment with your doctor. Blood clots are serious conditions that need to be monitored by a physician. Blood clot symptoms include cramping, redness, swelling and gradual onset of pain at the affected site.

• 2

  Keep the affected area elevated and avoid prolonged sitting. Blood clots that occur in the legs have the potential to travel to the lungs and lead to serious complications and possible death. To prevent this, doctors recommend elevating the leg and not lying down or sitting for a great deal of time during treatment.

• 3

  Take an anticoagulant medication. Anticoagulants help aid the body's natural clotting ability and can break up blood clots and prevent the condition from worsening. Heparin is an anticoagulant administered through an IV and warfarin is an oral medication prescribed.

• 4

  Find out if you are candidate for surgery to get rid of the blood clot. A doctor may decide to do a thrombectomy in lieu of using anticoagulant medication if the condition is serious. Doctors will surgically remove the blood clot from the body during this procedure.

• 5

  Use compression products. During treatment as well as a part of follow up care, the patient may be advised to wear compression stockings or use compression devices to help prevent blood clots.