Take clots seriously
Something very small can sometimes pose a big problem. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of those things.
DVT refers to the formation of a blood clot, or thrombus, within a vein deep within the body. Most deep vein blood clots occur in the lower leg or thigh, but they can also occur in other parts of the body.
When a clot partially or completely blocks the flow of blood through a vein, it can cause pain and swelling at the site, as well as other symptoms.
If the clot breaks free of the vein and lodges in the lungs, it is called a pulmonary embolism. This is a medical emergency. A pulmonary embolism can cause death within hours, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Some risk factors for DVT include:
• Having a personal history of DVT.
• Smoking.
• Being older than 60.
• Being overweight or obese.
• Having recent or ongoing treatments for cancer.
• Having a history of heart attack, stroke, or heart failure.
• Taking hormone replacement or birth control pills.
• Having an injury to a deep vein from surgery, a broken bone or other trauma.
• Being immobile during long-distance travel or prolonged bed rest.
• Being pregnant. The risk continues through the first six weeks after giving birth.
• Major surgery on your hip, knee, leg, calf, abdomen, or chest can also put you at high risk for DVT.
Symptoms
Not everyone who develops DVT has symptoms. Those who do could experience swelling of the leg or along a vein in the leg, tenderness or pain in the affected leg that worsens while walking or standing, swollen veins, a warm feeling in the area that’s swollen or painful, skin redness at the clot site, or foot pain. Contact your doctor at once if you have DVT symptoms.
DVT is treated with medicines-such as heparin or warfarin-that interfere with blood clotting and help prevent blood clots from forming or getting larger. You may also be advised to wear compression stockings.
In-hospital care may include physical therapy, range-of-motion exercises, and other types of exercises to promote muscle tension and contraction. Mechanical compression devices that fit on your leg might be used to keep blood from pooling and clotting.
Prevention If you’re at risk for DVT:
• See your doctor for regular checkups or, if you have had DVT, for follow-up treatment. °
• Take all medicines your doctor prescribes. °
• Use compression stockings if your doctor recommends them. °
• Get out of bed and move around as soon as possible after surgery or illness. And while traveling, try not to sit for long periods of time without walking.
Regular checkups can help detect DVT and other problems.
If you have symptoms of deep vein thrombosis, your doctor will probably conduct a thorough medical examination and order one or more tests. These procedures can rule out other causes for your symptoms.
In addition to checking your blood pressure, heart and lungs, your doctor will ask about your overall health, what prescription medicines you take, any recent surgeries or injuries, and whether you’ve been treated for cancer.
Diagnostic tests can tell your doctor if your blood is flowing as it should or if you have a clot that interrupts it.
Common tests for DVT include:
Ultrasound. Sound waves generate pictures of blood flow through the arteries and veins.
D-dimer test. Blood drawn from a vein or finger is tested for a substance that’s released when a blood clot dissolves. If the test shows high levels of the substance, you may have a blood clot. If your test is normal and you have few risk factors, DVT isn’t likely.
Venography. This x-ray test may be used if ultrasound doesn’t provide a clear diagnosis. Dye injected into a vein makes it possible to see blood flowing through the vein. If blood flow is slow, you could have a clot.
Other tests include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and angiography-all of which provide pictures of the inside of the body.
A blood test might be used to check whether you have an inherited blood-clotting disorder that can also cause DVT.
Sources: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Society for Vascular Surgery
