Diseases and Conditions

Aches and Pains You Should Never Ignore

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Calf Pain

Is there a small section of the calf muscle that feels hot to the touch and is red and tender? No, it’s not a cramp or muscle strain. Experts from the Mayo Clinic explain that when you experience pain in the calf along with redness and tenderness, you could be dealing with a blood clot. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) will begin with a rapidly intensifying pain and swelling. Since a dislodged blood clot could cause a fatal heart attack or stroke, as soon as you notice this type of pain, you need to get to the hospital.

Research from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has concluded that deep vein thrombosis (DVT) historically occurs in the lower extremities. Emergency attention is essential to preventing the clot from breaking apart or even a piece from traveling back up through the body to the heart and lungs. Even if the dislodged clot doesn’t make it to the heart and lungs, it could still cause fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) by getting stuck in the popliteal, femoral, or iliac veins of the lower extremities.