KNOW YOUR RISK FOR DVT

Reprinted from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

DVT is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. Blood clots occur when blood thickens and clumps together.  Most deep vein blood clots occur in the lower leg or thigh. They also can occur in other parts of the body. A blood clot in a deep vein can break off and travel through the bloodstream. The loose clot is called an embolus. When the clot travels to the lungs and blocks blood flow, the condition is called pulmonary embolism (PULL-mun-ary EM-bo-lizm), or PE.

PE is a very serious condition! It can damage the lungs and other organs in the body and cause death. Blood clots in the thigh are more likely to break off and cause PE than blood clots in the lower leg or other parts of the body. Blood clots also can form in the veins closer to the skin's surface. However, these clots won't break off and cause PE.

What Causes Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Blood clots can form in your body's deep veins when:

• Damage occurs to a vein's inner lining. This damage may result from injuries caused by physical, chemical, and biological factors. Such factors include surgery, serious injury, inflammation, or an immune response.
• Blood flow is sluggish or slow. Lack of motion can cause sluggish or  lowed 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 usual. Certain inherited conditions (such as factor V Leiden) increase blood's tendency to clot. This also is true of treatment with hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills.

Who Is At Risk for Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Many factors increase your risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). They include:

• A history of DVT.
• Disorders or factors that make your blood thicker or more likely to clot than normal. Certain inherited blood disorders (such as factor V Leiden) will do this. This also is true of treatment with hormone replacement therapy or using birth control pills.
• Injury to a deep vein from surgery, a broken bone, or other trauma.
• Slow blood flow in a deep vein from lack of movement. 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.
• 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 vein to allow easy access to the bloodstream for medical treatment.
• Being older than 60 (although DVT can occur in any age group).
• Being overweight or obese.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis?

The signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may be related to DVT itself or to pulmonary embolism (PE). See your doctor right away if you have symptoms of either. Both DVT and PE can cause serious, possibly life-threatening complications if not treated.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Only about half of the people with DVT have symptoms. These symptoms occur in the leg affected by the deep vein clot. 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 in pain
• Red or discolored skin on the leg

 

Pulmonary Embolism

Some people don't know they have DVT until they have signs or symptoms of PE. 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.

Diagnostic Tests

The most common tests used to diagnose DVT are:

• Ultrasound. This is the most common test for diagnosing deep vein blood clots. It uses sound waves to create pictures of blood flowing through the arteries and veins in the affected leg.
• A D-dimer test. This test measures a substance in the blood that's released when a blood clot dissolves.
• Venography (ve-NOG-ra-fee). This test is used if ultrasound doesn't provide a clear diagnosis.

For more information about DVT and PE, and to view an educational video go to:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Dvt/DVT_SignsAndSymptoms.html