Emergency Care for a Blood Clot in Northern California
When blood cells and other clotting components form, they turn into blood clots. Blood clotting is a healthy response to help heal wounds. However, a blood clot can be life threatening if it forms inside blood vessels. If you have a blood clot, you’ll need expert emergency treatment to dissolve the clot and prevent it from reaching essential organs.
Emergency services staff at Dignity Health North State are trained to diagnose and treat blood clots. If you suspect you have a blood clot and aren’t experiencing life-threatening symptoms, visit one of our emergency rooms for prompt treatment of a blood clot in Northern California. To wait in the comfort of your home, schedule an estimated arrival time using our online waiting tool InQuicker.
Symptoms of a Blood Clot
A blood clot can affect veins and arteries in various parts of your body. The symptoms vary, depending on which organ or body part is affected.
Signs and symptoms include:
- A blood clot in the brain causes stroke symptoms, including vision changes, speech problems, and weakness.
- Abdominal blood clots cause severe belly pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Heart blood clots cause heart attack symptoms including chest pain, sweating, and difficulty breathing.
- A lung blood clot or pulmonary embolism cause shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough.
- Leg blood clots cause symptoms ranging from mild cramping and tenderness to numbness and a bluish discoloration.
Always call 911 for symptoms of a stroke or heart attack.
Risk Factors for Blood Clots
Certain factors can increase your risk of developing a blood clot.
Known risk factors are:
- Being 65 years or older
- Being obese, sedentary or bedridden
- Having a family history of blood clots
- Having recent surgery, varicose veins, heart disease, or problems with blood clots in the past
You can help prevent blood clots by staying active and maintaining a healthy weight. For controllable risk factors, your doctor at Dignity Health North State may be able to help you lower your risk of developing a blood clot.
Treating Blood Clots at Dignity Health North State
Treatment for a blood clot varies, depending on if it’s located in a vein or an artery. A blood clot in the artery requires urgent and more advanced treatment. Your doctor may recommend emergency radiology, such as CT scan, to aid in diagnosing a blood clot and to determine its precise location.
We have several treatment options for healing and preventing blood clots.
Depending on the location of the clot, your ER doctor may recommend any of the following:
- Blood thinners, to prevent the clot from getting bigger
- A blood clot filter, to prevent the clot from entering your heart or lungs
- Clot-dissolving medications
- A catheter-directed procedure to dissolve or remove the clot
When you need precise treatment for a blood clot, trust the trained emergency services team at Dignity Health North State.
Emergency services at Dignity Health North State are equipped to heal a blood clot in Mt. Shasta, Red Bluff, and Redding, CA.