What are a blood clot’s symptoms and signs, is it most common in legs and lungs and what happened to Chico?
X Factor star Chico suffered a stroke due to a blood clot on the brain
BLOOD clots can be incredibly serious and need to be treated quickly.
This means it's important to be aware of the signs and symptoms. If you're not sure what to look out for, here's everything you need to know.
What are a blood clot's symptoms and signs?
There are two types of blood clot. When a clot occurs in an artery, it's called an arterial clot.
This can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
A blood clot in a vein is called a venous clot, with the most serious type being deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
These clots may build up more slowly over time, but can still be life-threatening.
According to , signs of a blood clot in the leg or arm include:
- pain or tenderness
- swelling
- skin that is warm to the touch
- redness or discoloration of the skin
3Blood clots are most common in legs, but can also occur in the arms, pelvis, lungs and brainCredit: Getty - Contributor
Signs of a blood clot in the lung include:
- difficulty breathing
- chest pain that worsens with a deep breath or lying down
- coughing or coughing up blood
- faster than normal or irregular heartbeat
As the states, there are a number of factors that could put you at risk of a blood clot. These include:
- staying in or having recently left hospital - especially if you can't move around much (like after an operation)
- being overweight
- smoking
- using combined hormonal contraception such as the combined pill, contraceptive patch or vaginal ring
- having had a blood clot before
Is it most common in legs and lungs?
The most common place for a blood clot to occur is in your lower leg, according to .
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) usually affects this area, but it can also happen in your arms, pelvis, lungs and brain.
A clot that travels to your lungs is called a pulmonary embolism (PE).
What is a stroke?
A STROKE is when the blood flow to the brain is damaged — usually by a clot, less often by a haemorrhage.
It can often be spotted because parts of the brain that control movement stop receiving a full blood supply.
Strokes in the under-60s are not that rare and younger people can — and do — suffer them.
The highest risk groups are those with high blood pressure, drinkers or smokers.
- By Carol Cooper, Sun Doctor
What happened to Chico?
It was revealed in September 2018 that X Factor star Chico had suffered a stroke because of a blood clot on his brain.
In a statement, Chico's representatives said: "Chico is feeling extremely lucky and feeling grateful for leading such a healthy lifestyle and thankful to his fitness that has definitely helped save his life.
"His doctor said his body has recovered so incredibly well, despite having a full blown stroke caused by a cerebral blood clot.
"The doctor has said he can only put it down to his fitness levels and positive mental attitude.
"Chico is under the wonderful hands and care of the medical team at Barnet hospital and cannot thank the doctors and team enough for the amazing work and speed of treatment and tests."