An Overview of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition that develops when you have a blood clot deep inside your veins. While DVT can occur in different parts of the body, it commonly occurs in leg veins. This condition can become a medical emergency known as pulmonary embolism if a clot breaks away and reaches your lungs, so it’s important to seek treatment for DVT. Knowing more about it, including the signs of it, can help you determine if you should see a vein physician.

Symptoms and Causes

You might not have any symptoms if you have DVT, so it can be difficult to know if you have this condition. If you do experience symptoms, they might be one or more of the following:

• Swelling in the area where the affected veins are located
• Discomfort or pain, such as cramping, in the affected area
• Skin discoloration in the affected leg or area
• Skin that feels warm to the touch in the affected area

You should seek emergency medical care if you develop any symptoms of pulmonary embolism, which can occur when you have DVT. Signs of this condition include the following:

• Shortness of breath that occurs suddenly or rapid breathing
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Discomfort or soreness in your chest, especially when coughing or inhaling
• Rapid heartbeat
• Seeing blood when you cough

DVT can occur when a blood clot forms deep inside at least one of your veins. Your risk of having DVT can be higher due to certain risk factors, such as being over 60 years old or having a previous vein injury. Other risk factors include sitting too long, being overweight, going through pregnancy, having prolonged bed rest, and being a smoker.

Steps to Prevent DVT

Since DVT can lead to serious complications, it’s important to lower your risk of getting it. You can help prevent DVT in several ways, such as eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight or losing extra pounds if you’re overweight. Other ways to prevent DVT include getting regular physical activity, avoiding wearing tight clothing, and avoiding sitting for long periods of time.

Common Treatment Types

DVT treatment involves stopping blood clots from becoming bigger and breaking loose, as well as lowering your risk of having this condition again. The kind of treatment you might need for this condition will depend on how serious it is and whether or not you have any clots that have broken loose. Common types of treatment for DVT include blood thinners to prevent clots from getting bigger and stop more from forming. Medications that break up clots are sometimes used in more serious cases of DVT to lower the risk of pulmonary embolism. Other types of treatment include compression stockings and vena cava filters that prevent clots from getting to your lungs.

Schedule a Consult at Premier Heart and Vein Care in California

If you have any symptoms of DVT, please contact us to schedule an appointment and meet our vein physicians in San Luis Obispo, CA. You can also visit us online to view our before and after results for vein problems.