Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a serious medical condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein present deep inside your body.

A blood clot is a clump of blood that turns into a solid-state.

Moreover, deep vein blood clots often form in your thigh or lower leg.

However, they can also develop in other areas of your body.

Other names for this condition are thromboembolism, post-thrombotic syndrome, and postphlebitic’s syndrome.

DVT can cause leg pain or swelling, while in some cases, there are no noticeable symptoms.

It is important to note that you may have DVT due to certain medical conditions that affect how your blood clots.

For instance, you may not move a lot while traveling a long distance o when you are on bed rest due to surgery, an illness, or an accident.

Furthermore, deep vein thrombosis can be serious as a blood clot in the veins can break loose.

Keep on reading to learn more.

Deep Vein Thrombosis Symptoms

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, symptoms of DVT only occur in about half of the people who have this condition.

Common DVT symptoms are:

• swelling in the foot, ankle, or leg, often on one side
• cramping pain in the affected leg that often begins in your calf
• severe, unexplained pain in the foot and ankle
• an area of your skin that feels warmer than the skin in the surrounding areas
• the skin over the affected area turning pale or reddish or bluish color, depending on the skin tone

It is important to note that if you are among people with upper extremity DVT or a blood clot in the arm, may not experience symptoms.

If you do, some common symptoms are neck pain, shoulder pain, swelling in the arm or hand, blue or darker tinted skin color, pain that moves from your arm to the forearm, and weakness in the hand.

Moreover, a pulmonary embolism can occur when a DVT clot moves from the arm or leg into the lung.

When an artery in the lung becomes blocked, it is a life-threatening condition that needs emergency care.

Causes of Deep Vein Thrombosis

DVT occurs due to a blood clot,

This clot can block a vein, preventing blood from circulating in the body. While clotting can occur for a number of reasons.

These are:

Injury

Damage to the wall of the blood vessels can narrow or block blood flow.

A blood clot may form as a result.

Surgery

Blood vessels can damage during surgery, which in turn can lead to the development of a blood clot.

Moreover, bed rest with little to no movement after surgery may also increase your risk of developing a blood clot.

Reduced Mobility or Inactivity

When you sit frequently, blood tends to collect in your legs, especially in the lower parts.

However, if you are unable to move for extended periods of time, the blood flow in your legs can slow down.

This causes a clot to develop.

Certain Medications

Some medications can also increase the chances of your blood to form a clot.

Risk Factors for Developing DVT

DVT occurs most commonly in people who are over 50 years old, however, DVT can happen at any age.

Certain conditions that alter how your blood moves through your veins can raise your risk of developing clots.

These are:

• smoking, especially heavily
• taking birth control pills or undergoing hormone therapy
• having a catheter placed in a vein
• a family history of DVT
• being overweight or obesity which often puts more pressure on the veins in your legs and pelvis
• an injury that damages your veins like a bone fracture
• staying seated for a long period of time while you are in a car or on a plane

While some conditions can also increase the risk of having blood clots.

These are hereditary blood clotting disorders when you have at least one risk factor, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, heart failure, and cancer.

DVT is a major risk associated with surgery.

Moreover, this is especially true if you have surgery in the lower extremities, like joint replacement surgery.

Diagnosing DVT

Your doctor will use your medical history, a thorough physical exam, as well as one or more diagnostic tests to find or rule out the presence of DVT.

These tests are:

Ultrasound: This is the most common test your doctor will use for the diagnosis of DVT.

Ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of your arteries and veins to see how blood flows through them.

However, if a clot is present, your doctor will be able to see the interrupted blood flow and make the diagnosis.

Venogram: In case the ultrasound is inconclusive, your doctor may order a venogram.

During this test, they will inject a dye into the vein in question.

Then, with an X-ray, they will take over an area where DVT may be present.

The dye makes the vein more visible, so interrupted blood flow around would be easily visible.

D-Dimer Test: This test helps to measure the presence of a substance that your body releases when the blood clot breaks.

If the levels of the substance are high and you have risk factors for DVT, you will likely have a clot.

Moreover, if your levels are normal, and your risk factors are low, you likely do not have them.

A D-dimer test can also be an indicator of other factors.

These include pulmonary embolism, stroke, pregnancy, or infection.

Your doctor may also use other tests to diagnose DVT if these above tests are not successful.

Complications of DVT

A major complication of DVT is a pulmonary embolism.

You can develop pulmonary embolism if a blood clot moves to your legs and blocks a blood vessel.

This can cause serious damage to your lungs and other parts of the body.

Therefore, get immediate medical help or seek medical advice in case you have signs of a pulmonary embolism.

Thes signs are:

• dizziness
• sweating
• rapid breathing
• coughing up blood
• rapid heart rate
• chest pain that can get worse when coughing or inhaling deeply

Treatment Options

DVT is a serious medical condition, thus tell your doctor right away if you think you are experiencing the symptoms of this condition.

Or you can go to the nearest emergency room.

A healthcare professional will check out your symptoms.

Deep vein thrombosis treatment focuses on keeping the clot from growing.

Additionally, the treatment can help prevent a pulmonary embolism and lower your risk of having more clots.

Medications

Certain medications your doctor will prescribe to thin your blood are:

• heparin
• warfarin or Coumadin
• enoxaparin, Lovenox
• fondaparinux, Arixtra

Blood-thinning medication often makes it harder for your blood to clot.

They also keep the existing clots as small as possible and decrease the chances that you will develop more of them.

However, if blood thinners do not work, or in case DVT is severe, your docotr may use thrombolytic drugs.

If you are among people with upper extremity DVT, you can benefit from this medication.

These drugs work by breaking up clots and you will receive these through a vein or intravenously.

Other Treatments

Other treatment options for deep vein thrombosis are:

Compression Stocking

In case you are at a high risk of DVT, wearing compression stockings can help prevent swelling, and may lower your chance of developing clots.

Compression stockings reach just below your knee, or right above it.

Your docotr may recommend that you wear these every day.

Filters

If you are unable to take blood thinners, you may need to have a filter put inside the large abdominal vein: Vena Cava.

This form of treatment will help to prevent pulmonary embolism by stopping clots from entering your lungs.

However, filters have risks.

If they are left in for too long, they can increase the risk of DVT eventually.

Moreover, you should use them for a short-term period until the risk of thromboembolism reduces.

And you are able to use blood thinners again.

Surgery for Deep Vein Thrombosis

Your doctor can suggest surgery to remove a DVT clot in your arm or leg.

This is often only recommended in case of a large blood clot or clots that are causing serious issues like tissue damage.

During surgical thrombectomy or surgery to remove a blood clot, your surgeon will make an incision into a blood vessel.

They will locate and remove the clot.

Then, they will repair the blood vessel and tissue.

In some cases, however, they may use a small inflating balloon to keep the blood vessel open when they remove the clot.

When the clot is found and removed, the balloon is removed with it.

It is important surgery is not without risk, so your doctor will only use this treatment in severe cases.

Risks are infection, damage to the blood vessel, and excess bleeding.

Exercises for Deep Vein Thrombosis

The longer you sit, the greater your risk of developing a blood clot.

In case you have been seated for too long, there are certain exercises you can do while sitting to keep your legs moving and help circulate blood.

These are:

Knee Pulls

Bend your leg, and raise your knee toward your chest.

Wrap your knee with your arms for a greater stretch, hold this position for several seconds, and do the same exercise on the other side.

Repeat these stretches several times.

Foot Pumps

Place your feet flat on the floor, keep the balls of your feet on it, and raise your heels.

Hold for a few seconds, and then lower your heels.

Then raise the balls of your feet off the floor, keeping the heels in place, hold for a few seconds, and then lower the ball off your feet.

Make sure to repeat these pumps a number of times.

Ankle Circles

Lift both feet off the floor, and draw circles with your tows in one direction for a few seconds.

Switch direction and draw circles for a few seconds.

Repeat this exercise a few times.

Home Remedies for DVT

Once your doctor diagnoses a DVT blood clot, your doctor will likely prescribe medications to help thin the blood or break the clot.

Moreover, you can combine the prescription medications with the following remedies to prevent other complications and reduce the risk of future blood clots.

Move More

If possible, take daily breaks to improve blood flow.

Shorter, frequent walks are better than one long walk.

Keep your Leg or Arm Elevated

This is especially important for your legs.

Blood can pool when your feet are on the ground all day. Use a stool or chair to keep your legs elevated and close to level with your hips.

Wear Compression Stockings

These specially designed stockings will fit tightly around your feet.

Moreover, they will gradually become loose as they move up your leg to the keep.

The compression will help prevent pooling and swelling and increases blood flow.

However, most people do not need the.m.

But if you are at a high risk of DVT, you may find them useful.

Also, compression stockings are beneficial when you are traveling.

Prevention Tips

You can lower your risk of developing DVT by making certain lifestyle changes.

These are managing your blood pressure, giving up smoking, and maintaining a moderate weight.

Moreover, moving your legs around when you have been sitting for long periods of time can also help keep the blood flowing.

Walking around while on bed rest can also help prevent clots from forming.

The risk of DVT during travel can become higher in case you are sitting for more than 4 hours.

Thus, to lower your risk, move around every so often.

Driving long drives, make sure to get out of your car, and stretch at regular intervals.

If you are flying, taking a train, or riding a bus, walk in the aisles.

Moreover, stretch your legs and feet when you are sitting.

This will help keep your blood moving steadily in the calves.

Do not wear tight clothes that can restrict blood flow.

Thus, complications of DVT are preventable.

Deep Vein Thrombosis during Pregnancy

Pregnancy can increase the risk of DVT.

In fact, pregnant individuals are about 5 to 10 times more likely to develop DVT than those who are not.

While conceiving, the level of blood-clotting protein increases and the level of anticlotting protein falls.

Moreover, an increase in hormone levels and a slower blood flow as your uterus expands can restrict blood flowing back from the lower extremities, contributing to the risk.

The elevated risk continues until about 6 weeks after giving birth.

While on bed rest or having a cesarean delivery, or a C-section, can also increase your risk of having a DVT.

Therefore, remain watchful for symptoms of DVT while you are pregnant.

DVT and Flying

It is important to note that the risk of developing a blood clot increases when flying because sitting for long periods of time increases the chances of DVT.

The longer the flight, the greater the risk.

Moreover, it is significant if you are taking flights that last for more than 8 hours.

Your risk also increases if you are flying and already have other risk factors of DVT.

The following measures can help to reduce the risk of blood clots while flying:

• get up and walk around the cabin during the flight
• do exercises with your feet and legs to keep the blood flowing
• wear compression stockings that can help reduce blood pooling and help maintain blood flow
• sit in an exit row or bulkhead seat so you have more room to stretch and move your legs
• take any prescription blood thinners or aspirin as prescribed by your docotr

Symptoms of a blood clot may not develop immediately after flying.

Diet for Deep Vein Thrombosis

A nutrient-dense and balanced diet can help prevent DVT and avoid life-threatening complications.

Also, a healthier lifestyle incorporates a number of changes that can help prevent blood clots in the first place.

This includes moving more, quitting smoking, and maintaining a moderate weight.

Moreover, you can lower your risk of DVT and blood clots with a balanced diet.

Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains deliver important vitamins and minerals.

A diet high in fiber, fruits, and vegetables like the Mediterranean diet can help if you are at a high risk of DVT or if you had DVT before, however, research is needed to support this.

Some vitamins and minerals can interfere with DVT medications.

For instance, too much vitamin K can bypass warfarin’s ability to thin your blood and prevent a clot.

Therefore, review any vitamins or supplements you take with your doctor and ask about the possible interactions with medications.

It is also important to talk to them about any foods or nutrients you should avoid.

Final Thoughts

DVT is a serious medical condition and can be life-threatening. Diagnosis can be difficult, as a lot of people with DVT do not experience symptoms. In case you do not have symptoms, you may be even at a greater risk for life-threatening complications.

This is why it is important to be aware of the risk factors and share the symptoms with your doctor. They can prescribe medications or other therapies to treat DVT, however, there are things you can also do on your own.

Moving regularly, wearing compression stockings, and adopting a balanced diet can help to manage DVT risks.