The risk increases if the travel time is longer than 4 hours, or if you have other DVT risk factors. If you have risk factors for DVT, your doctor may advise you to wear compression stockings while traveling, or he or she may suggest that you take a blood-thinning medicine before traveling.
Venous thrombosis. Venous thromboembolism VTE. This term is used for both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Causes Blood clots can form in your body's deep veins if: A vein's inner lining is damaged. Injuries caused by physical, chemical, or biological factors can damage the veins. Such factors include surgery, serious injuries, inflammation, and immune responses.
Blood flow is sluggish or slow. Lack of motion can cause sluggish or slow blood flow. This may occur after surgery, if you're ill and in bed for a long time, or if you're traveling for a long time. Your blood is thicker or more likely to clot than normal.
Some inherited conditions such as factor V Leiden increase the risk of blood clotting. Hormone therapy or birth control pills also can increase the risk of clotting. Conditions or factors that make your blood thicker or more likely to clot than normal. Some inherited blood disorders such as factor V Leiden will do this. Hormone therapy or birth control pills also increase the risk of clotting. Injury to a deep vein from surgery, a broken bone, or other trauma. Slow blood flow in a deep vein due to lack of movement.
Pregnancy and the first 6 weeks after giving birth. Recent or ongoing treatment for cancer. A central venous catheter. This is a tube placed in a vein to allow easy access to the bloodstream for medical treatment. Older age.
Overweight or obesity. Your risk for DVT increases if you have more than one of the risk factors listed above. They include: Swelling of the leg, or along a vein in the leg Pain or tenderness in the leg, which you may feel only when standing or walking Increased warmth in the area of the leg that's swollen or painful Red or discolored skin on the leg Pulmonary Embolism Some people aren't aware of a deep vein clot until they have signs and symptoms of PE.
Signs and symptoms of PE include: Unexplained shortness of breath Pain with deep breathing Coughing up blood Rapid breathing and a fast heart rate also may be signs of PE. Diagnosis Your doctor will diagnose deep vein thrombosis DVT based on your medical history, a physical exam, and test results.
Medical History To learn about your medical history, your doctor may ask about: Your overall health Any prescription medicines you're taking Any recent surgeries or injuries you've had Whether you've been treated for cancer Physical Exam Your doctor will check your legs for signs of DVT, such as swelling or redness. Common Tests The most common test for diagnosing deep vein blood clots is ultrasound.
Your doctor also may recommend a D-dimer test or venography ve-NOG-rah-fee. Treatment Doctors treat deep vein thrombosis DVT with medicines and other devices and therapies. The main goals of treating DVT are to: Stop the blood clot from getting bigger Prevent the blood clot from breaking off and moving to your lungs Reduce your chance of having another blood clot Medicines Your doctor may prescribe medicines to prevent or treat DVT.
The following situations may change the length of treatment: If your blood clot occurred after a short-term risk for example, surgery , your treatment time may be shorter. If you've had blood clots before, your treatment time may be longer.
If you have certain other illnesses, such as cancer, you may need to take blood thinners for as long as you have the illness. Thrombin Inhibitors These medicines interfere with the blood clotting process. Thrombolytics Doctors prescribe these medicines to quickly dissolve large blood clots that cause severe symptoms. Other Types of Treatment Vena Cava Filter If you can't take blood thinners or they're not working well, your doctor may recommend a vena cava filter. Graduated Compression Stockings Graduated compression stockings can reduce leg swelling caused by a blood clot.
Talk with your doctor about how long you should wear compression stockings. If you're at risk for these conditions: See your doctor for regular checkups.
Take all medicines as your doctor prescribes. Get out of bed and move around as soon as possible after surgery or illness as your doctor recommends. Moving around lowers your chance of developing a blood clot. Exercise your lower leg muscles during long trips. This helps prevent blood clots from forming.
Follow the steps above and: Take all medicines that your doctor prescribes to prevent or treat blood clots. Follow up with your doctor for tests and treatment. Use compression stockings as your doctor directs to prevent leg swelling. Lifestyle changes prior to surgery may also help.
These may include quitting smoking or adopting an exercise program. After surgery, once your doctor gives you permission, make sure that you move around as much as possible. Moving around lowers your chance of developing a blood clot. Your doctor may also recommend compression stockings. These can help prevent leg swelling. There are always risks associated with any type of surgery.
DVT and PE are potential complications that you should pay close attention to. According to the American Society of Hematology , as many as , people in the United States develop DVT each year, and up to , people a year die from this condition. Common symptoms of blood clots include:. If you think you have a blood clot, immediately contact your doctor so that you can undergo treatment.
In the event you do have surgery, your doctor can go over all of the risk factors as well as recommend the best way for you to prepare. Your risk for developing blood clots increases after surgery. DVT refers to the formation of blood clots in deep veins in your body such as your legs, arms, or pelvis.
Muscle movement is needed to continuously pump blood to your heart. This inactivity causes blood to collect in the lower part of your body, generally the leg and hip regions. This can lead to a clot. If your blood is not allowed to flow freely and mix with anticoagulants, you have a higher risk of developing a blood clot.
In addition to inactivity, surgery also increases your risk for clots because the surgery can cause foreign matter to be released into your blood stream, including tissue debris, collagen, and fat.
When your blood comes into contact with foreign matter, it responds by thickening. This release can cause the blood to coagulate. Additionally, in response to the removal or movement of soft tissues during surgery, your body may release naturally occurring substances that encourage blood clotting. Blood clot formation after surgery is a risk. Your doctor will evaluate your risk factors before surgery and make recommendations to prevent DVTs or PEs. Have you ever wondered what it feels like to have a blood clot?
We explain some of the classic signs with help from three medical experts. Blood clots often occur without symptoms. This can make it difficult to tell if you have one. Learn more about the early warning signs. Damage to blood vessels can cause bruising and blood clots, but the two conditions have many differences.
Learn more about them. My active lifestyle and birth control created the perfect situation for a blood clot to form. These studies are done to determine if you have a PE. Since there is potential for development of a DVT following intervention on veins by the Center for Vascular Medicine, a follow-up vein ultrasound is always performed.
If at any time in your postop recovery you are concerned about a possible blood clot, you need to contact your primary healthcare provider or the Center for Vascular Medicine. After a thorough discussion of your concerns and possibly a physical examination, a determination for additional studies will be made.
A DVT can be life-threatening. One should never take a wait-and-see approach to such a problem. Please seek immediate medical attention. Sanjiv Lakhanpal published in several medical research journals through the Lakhanpal Vein Foundation to help educate and raise awareness for vascular disease. He has been practicing medicine for 25 years, and is the founder of The Center for Vascular Medicine.
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