Understanding Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition wherein a blood clot forms deep in the leg. In terms of DVT statistics, it is experienced by approximately 900,000 Americans per year, with as many as 60,000 to 100,000 dying as a result.

Causes of DVT

DVT can occur due to many causes, including but not limited to:

• Damage to the interior of a vein from surgery, trauma or even an immune response
• The presence of estrogen in the bloodstream may predispose some people to DVT
• Various genetic conditions
• Limited movement, such as on a long transatlantic flight or protracted bed rest
• Pregnancy
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Age over 60
• Heart failure
• Cancer
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Clotting disorders

One may not be aware of underlying genetic disorders, but smoking, obesity and the lack of movement and exercise can be addressed through smoking cessation, weight loss and…

the awareness that prolonged sitting can predispose one to this often-painful condition.

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Complications of DVT

The most dangerous complication of DVT is pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening medical emergency caused when a piece of a clot in the leg breaks off, travels to the lungs and blocks blood flow to a portion of the lung.

Pulmonary embolism manifests with any combination of the following symptoms:

• Severe and acute shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Sharp chest pain upon inhaling deeply that can mimic a heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• A cough that may produce blood or blood-tinged sputum
• Rapid heartbeat that may or may not be irregular
• Dizziness
• Pain or swelling of the lower leg (related to DVT)
• Fever
• Skin that is cold or clammy to the touch, and potentially discolored with a blue hue (cyanosis).

Another potential complication of DVT is postphlebitic syndrome, which occurs in approximately five percent of cases. The symptoms of this condition include:

• Changes in skin color
• Itchiness (pruritis)
• Leg edema (swelling)
• Lymphedema
• Numbness
• Leg ulcers
• Skin infections

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Diagnosis and treatment

There are several…

 common symptoms of DVT, which include:

• Redness of the leg
• Leg swelling
• Pain, often in the calf
• Warmth

Despite common symptoms, many individuals afflicted with DVT are entirely asymptomatic. DVT can be diagnosed by physical examination and an ultrasound of the leg. DVT is generally treated with blood-thinning medications that help make the blood less likely to clot, and medications, called thrombolytics, can be injected to break up existing clots.

For chronic DVT, or a person unable to take blood thinners, a filter can be placed in the vena cava (the largest vein in the body) to “catch” clots on the way to the lungs. Compression stockings can help increase “venous return” of blood back to the heart from the lower legs. Elevating the feet on a regular basis is also recommended for prevention of DVT, and regular exercise can help the muscles to squeeze the veins and increase venous return.

Education is key

Like any potentially life-altering or life-threatening condition, knowing the signs and symptoms of DVT can help an individual seek medical treatment in a timely manner. Understanding the causes of DVT  is also prudent, as is knowing how to prevent this condition through lifestyle adjustment (e.g.: weight loss, smoking cessation, exercise and avoiding prolonged sitting).

We cannot live in fear of DVT and pulmonary embolism, of course, but we can be educated patients and healthcare consumers who know when to act, and how to prevent the unnecessary complications of this relatively common condition.