Warning Signs and Symptoms of DVT and Pulmonary Embolism
The most common symptoms of lower extremity DVT are swelling and pain. The skin may become discolored and the patient may also have a low-grade fever. If those symptoms are present in a patient who has been bed-ridden or convalescing from surgery, or who has been non-ambulatory for some other reason, or who has other substantial risk factors for DVT, then the patient's physician should consider and rule out a diagnosis of DVT.
The symptoms of a Pulmonary Embolism in many cases consist of one or more of the following:
- cough with sudden onset or producing bloody sputum
- acute onset of shortness of breath at rest or with exertion;
- lightheadedness
- fainting or dizziness
- chest pain
- especially sharp or stabbing; burning, aching or dull, heavy sensation
- may be worsened by breathing deeply, coughing, eating, or bending.
- sweating;
- anxiety;
tachypnea (rapid breathing); and
or tachycardia (rapid heart rate).
Other possible symptoms include: wheezing, clammy skin, bluish skin discoloration, nasal flaring, pelvic pain, leg pain in one or both legs, swelling in the legs, a lump associated with a vein near the surface of the body (superficial vein) that may be painful, low blood pressure, anxiety.
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