How Long For Blood To Clot

Claret clots can be very serious and need to be treated quickly. Staying healthy and active can help prevent them.

Urgent advice: Get advice from 111 now if yous think yous take a claret clot

Symptoms of a claret clot include:

throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness and warmth in a leg or arm
sudden breathlessness, precipitous chest hurting (may be worse when you breathe in) and a coughing or coughing up blood

Blood clots tin be life threatening if not treated chop-chop.

111 will tell you what to do. They tin can arrange a phone call from a nurse or medico if you lot need one.

Go to 111.nhs.uk or phone call 111.

Other ways to get assistance

A GP may be able to help yous.

Ask your GP practice for an urgent date.

A blood jell in a leg is called a DVT (deep vein thrombosis).

Blood clots are rare in immature, salubrious people.

You're more likely to get them if you:

are staying in or recently left infirmary – peculiarly if y'all cannot move around much (like subsequently an operation)
are overweight
fume
are using combined hormonal contraception such equally the combined pill, contraceptive patch or vaginal ring
accept had a blood clot before
are pregnant or take only had a baby
have an inflammatory condition such as Crohn's illness or rheumatoid arthritis

In that location are likewise other things that increase your risk of clots.

If you're at a loftier chance of blood clots – for case, yous're in hospital – follow the advice of your care team virtually preventing clots.

This may involve wearing stockings that better your blood menstruum or taking medicine to reduce the run a risk of clots (anticoagulants).

There are also things you tin do to help avert clots.

stay active – taking regular walks can help
drink plenty of water to avoid aridity – you're more probable to get a clot if you're dehydrated
attempt to lose weight if y'all're overweight
wear flight stockings or flight socks to improve your blood period on long flights – a pharmacist can propose you lot about this

Information:

If you:

need help with mean solar day-to-day living because of illness or inability
care for someone regularly because they're ill, elderly or disabled, including family unit members

Our guide to care and support explains your options and where you tin get support.

Page last reviewed: 16 February 2021
Next review due: xvi February 2024