What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis? Signs, Prevention and Treatment

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is an episodic blood clotting condition which is thought to affect roughly 900,000 Americans each year. DVT can escalate and cause a pulmonary embolism (PE) if left untreated. In roughly 25 percent of cases, the first symptom that a pulmonary embolism is sudden death.

This article explores the signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis, along with prevention tips and treatment options. Read on and continue to search online to become more knowledgeable about this life-threatening condition.

What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Deep vein thrombosis occurs when blood clots develop in a vein located deep inside the body, such as in the thigh or lower leg. This can cause pain, numbness and discoloration on the surface of the skin.

If a DVT blood clot breaks free from its position in the vein, it can travel through the blood stream and pass into the lungs. This is known as a pulmonary embolism. When DVT and PE occur together, the condition is referred to as venous thromboemboilsm (VTE). Globally, VTE is a leading cause of permanent disability and death.

Early Signs and Symptoms

In almost all cases of DVT, the patient experiences symptoms on one side of the body only. The early signs and symptoms of DVT include:

• Pain in the thigh or calf
• Cramping or soreness in the thigh or calf
• Blue or red tinted skin on the leg
• Skin feeling warm to the touch around the affected area

The symptoms of PE are:

• Extreme shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Coughing (often with traces of blood)
• Dizziness
• Excessive sweating
• Sudden death

Prevention Tips

The National Blood Clot Alliance recommends the following tips to prevent deep vein thrombosis:

• Avoid long periods of staying still
• If you must stay still (i.e. long haul flights) get up and move around at least once every two hours
• Keep weight within a healthy range
• Take regular exercise (even just a daily walk)
• Drink plenty of water
• Do “heel-toe” exercises or circle your ankles when sat still

People who are in the high-risk category for DVT should ask their doctor about prevention options, such as compression stockings or blood thinners.

Treatment Options

Deep vein thrombosis is treated with three goals in mind:

1. Stop the clot from getting larger
2. Limit chances of more clots forming
3. Stop the clot from breaking loose

Blood thinning medications are the most commonly prescribed treatment for DVT. They cannot break up or reduce the size of existing clots, but they can prevent new blood clots from forming. Your doctor may start you on injectable blood thinners, then switch over to pills once the immediate danger has passed.

In serious cases of DVT, PE or VTE, your doctor may prescribe clot busters to break up existing clots. This medication is typically administered in the hospital, due to the high risk that they may cause excessive bleeding.

If you are experiencing any of the DVT symptoms listed in this article, make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible. Call an ambulance immediately if you develop shortness of breath, chest pain or any other PE symptoms.