What You Need to Know About Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT, is caused by a blood clot that forms in a vein buried deep within a leg. They are most commonly caused from sitting or lying for prolonged periods of time. While the majority of DVT incidences resolve themselves on their own, some can be fatal. Furthermore, an episode may go away only to reappear years later. Do to this risk, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of DVT so that you can take appropriate action when necessary.
Signs and Symptoms
DVT occurs primarily in cases when someone is sitting in a confined space for hours at a time. International air travel is one of the prime culprits, but long periods in a vehicle, sitting at home or laying in bed can also precipitate the formation of clots in the lower leg. When these clots form, the victim will generally feel a painful but localized cramp in one of the legs. This may be followed by swelling or discoloration of the surrounding tissue, in addition to the presence of heat around the affected area.
Keep in mind that the extent of the abnormality will vary from person to person based on their physiology and size of the clot. It is also to develop DVT in other areas of the lower body, including the thighs and pelvis. It is not uncommon for clots to form after trauma, leg or hip fractures or surgery. This is one of the reasons that people are prescribed blood thinning medication as a way to reduce risk.
Pain and swelling usually diminish over time and the situation will resolve itself. However, this doesn’t mean that the clot has disappeared. It just means that it has embedded itself into the wall of the vein. The risk is when the clot becomes dislodged and travels to other parts of the body and blocks the flow of blood to vital organs. Furthermore, clots can be present for years before becoming dislodged, and victims may not even know they have a problem until they encounter a life-threatening emergency.
Pulmonary Embolism
Most clots that form in the lower leg stay there, but sometimes they enter the circulatory system and travel to the lungs. Once in the lungs, they block blood flow and the exchange of oxygen through respiration. These can be fatal if not dealt with in a timely manner. The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include sharp pain in the chest and back that is magnified by coughing or movement, rapid heart rate, dizziness or passing out. Most people experience a sudden shortness of breath, and spitting up blood is not uncommon. Left untreated, the victim can go into cardiac arrest and die.
Sometimes the clot may be small enough to pass through the lungs without causing blockage. However, a clot can travel to the head and cause a stroke. Clots can also travel to other organs, particularly the kidneys and cause permanent damage as well.
Prevention
The best thing that anyone can do, no matter their age, is to avoid inactivity, even while traveling for long periods of time. Stretch and contract the muscles in the lower calf and foot while sitting for more than a couple of hours in a plane or car. You can also get up and walk around for a few minutes every hour. Avoid being too sedentary or sitting in confined spaces for too long. Don’t smoke, as smoking constricts blood vessels and makes the effects of clots more severe.
Treatments
Most treatment options involve giving the patient blood-thinning medication to prevent the clot from getting bigger or other ones from forming. Some attempts may be made to isolate and dissolve the clot whereas other treatments call for supportive therapy to improve circulation in the legs. Keep in mind that the body often has mechanisms to dissolve clots on their own as well. Doctors will take blood tests, assess the condition of the veins and develop a treatment plan based on a number of different factors.
If you or someone you know experiences a sudden, distinctive cramp in the lower leg while standing or walking after sitting for a long period of time, accompanied by swelling or discoloration, seek medical attention immediately. You never want to take a chance when it comes to DVT. It may just be a cramp that goes away on its own, but it may also be a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate attention. It’s better to err on the side of caution and let the doctors make the call.
The good news, if there is any, is that this is a priority emergency that will get the patient to the front of the line. So, even in a SHTF situation when healthcare services are stretched to the limit, chances are that the patient will get seen and evaluated without too much delay. Consequently, you don’t want to delay getting to the hospital either.
