What Symptoms Does a Blood Clot in Your Groin Cause?

A blood clot in the groin may cause no symptoms, or it may cause swelling, pain and tenderness in the leg, states the Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Inc. The skin on the leg may have a reddish or bluish appearance and may feel warm to the touch. A blood clot that lodges in the deep vessels of the groin can block the flow of blood from the legs to the heart, a condition called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT.

A main danger of DVT is that the blood clot can break away and travel to the lung where it results in a pulmonary embolism, a condition that is potentially fatal, explains Everyday Health. Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include sudden or unexplained shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting, chest pain exacerbated by taking a deep breath or coughing, a high pulse rate and coughing up blood.

Remaining in one position for a long time can cause the development of DVT, notes Everyday Health. Other risk factors include obesity, smoking, certain medical conditions or treatments, injuries to the veins and a family history of the condition.

About 25 percent of those who experience pulmonary embolism die suddenly from the condition, so it is important to detect and treat DVT quickly, warns Everyday Health. Diagnosis entails blood tests and imaging tests, and treatments include oral or intravenous administration of anticoagulants (blood thinners), intravenous administration of thrombolytics (medications that break up clots), surgical implantation of a filter to block the clot from traveling to the lung and surgical removal of the clot.

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