What is Deep Vein Thrombosis: Health conditions are very common these days. It doesn’t matter to which age group you belong; sometimes the conditions hit you at any age, and likewise is the condition of deep vein thrombosis. From pregnant women to people who have hit their 60s, this problem is turning out to be very common.
People look out for doctors to get treatment and deal with such conditions. Well, if you are also dealing with this problem, visit Jaipur and fix an appointment with Dr. Nikhil Bansal. He is one of the best doctors for DVT treatment in Jaipur. For sure, after approaching him, you will be able to get rid of the problem.
Now that you know about the doctor, let’s discuss the condition in detail. Let’s get started!
What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a condition in which blood circulation becomes blocked by clots that are too deep in the veins. It is caused by the breakdown of tissue that lines veins and leads to an accumulation of blood. Blood clots can travel through veins without any pain and can travel around the body for many hours with intermittent clumping of cells and pooling of liquid. Blood clots form in a deep leg vein, typically in the leg’s calf muscle. The majority of DVTs are caused by inactivity and return to normal following adequate treatment.
This condition can be very fatal if not detected early on. Also, if you have deep vein thrombosis, immediate emergency medical ankle stitching should be carried out by doctors to free the clot from remaining blood.
What causes DVT in the left leg?
Symptoms of DVT:
The common symptoms of DVT are as follows:
- Swollen foot, ankle, or leg on one side
- A cramping pain in your calf, which usually begins at the bottom of your shin,
- The foot seems to be throbbing with pain, and you can’t do anything about it.
- a large area of your skin that feels warmer than the surrounding areas
- Skin turns pale, reddish, or bluish depending on skin tone.
People with a DVT in their arm, or blood clots (collectively known as upper extremity DVT), can experience different symptoms. Symptoms may include:
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- The pain that moves from the arm to the forearm
- weakness in the hand.
- Swelling in the arm or hand
- blue-or darker-tinted skin color
It’s not often that you’ll know that you have DVT until it’s too late and emergency treatment is necessary. Many people don’t even realize they have blood clots in their lungs until the symptoms start to become more apparent.
A pulmonary embolism is when a DVT clot moves into a lung artery and closes it off. This causes an emergency and can be life-threatening.
Risk factors related to DVT:
Different things can increase your risk of developing DVT. It’s important to know what those risk factors are and what you can do to reduce your chances. Factors that generally increase your DVT risk include:
1. Age:
DVT is more common among older individuals, especially those who are sixty years old or older.
2. Sitting for long periods of time:
When your calf muscles don’t contract for a long time, this may predispose you to orthostatic hypotension. This can cause a drop in blood pressure when you suddenly stand up.
3. Prolonged bed rest:
Blood clots can sometimes form in your calves, but if you don’t move your calf muscles for too long, they could become problematic.
4. Injury or surgery:
Surgery or blood clots can increase the risk of injury to your veins.
5. Pregnancy:
Pregnancy results in blood clots (venous clots), which are most commonly found in the pelvis and legs. Women with inherited clotting disorders are more prone to having these occur, but many women experience them for up to six weeks after giving birth–meaning a baby’s first year can be affected.
6. Smoking:
It can be seen as the leading cause of DVT, which is a deep vein thrombosis. Smoking increases your risk of having a clot in your veins.
7. Cancer:
Prolonged exposure to some forms of cancer can increase substances in your blood that cause your blood to clot. Some forms of cancer treatment also increase the risk of blood clots.
8. Heart failure:
Having a heart condition makes these risks more present and noticeable. Symptoms caused by any type of pulmonary embolism are more noticeable if you have heart failure.
9. Inflammatory bowel disease:
Bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, increase the risk of DVT.
10. A personal or family history of DVT or PE:
If you or someone in your family has been told they have DVT, you might be at greater risk of developing DVT.
11. Genetics:
Blood clots caused by inherited risk factors or disorders, such as factor V Leiden, are serious and can sometimes be life-threatening. Inherited traits like clotting disorders might not cause blood clots on their own; they require other risk factors to trigger the clotting process.
12. Birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy:
Both can increase your blood’s ability to clot, as well as reduce your risk of stroke.
13. Being overweight or obese:
Weight gain can cause pressure to build in the veins of your pelvis and legs, which can lead to DVT. These are usually benign and do not require treatment, but they can cause discomfort if they bother you.
14. There is no risk factor that has been identified:
Occasionally, something can go wrong and cause a blood clot. This is called an “unprovoked venous thrombosis.”
Treatment for DVT:
DVT is a serious medical condition. They can be debilitating and even dangerous if left untreated. Visit your doctor immediately if you are experiencing symptoms of DVT or visit the nearest emergency room.
A healthcare professional can diagnose all symptoms of the disease, analyse them, and determine quickly if it needs immediate attention.
DVT treatments can help keep a blood clot from forming and provide additional benefits, such as helping prevent pulmonary embolism, lowering your risk of having more clots, and preventing complications during surgery.
Medication:
People taking blood-thinning medications may have decreased the size of their clots. However, this can make it more difficult to stop bleeding and increase the likelihood of other clots occurring. If a clot goes untreated for too long, heart failure or permanent disability can result.
Thrombotic drugs are used in certain cases to dissolve clots. If drugs don’t work or the clot is too severe, your doctor may prescribe blood thinners instead. People with upper extremity DVT can also benefit from this medication.
Compression stockings:
Wearing compression stockings could help protect against DVT and reduce your chances of developing a clot. These stockings typically start just below the knee or just above it and will be worn every day. Your doctor may recommend you wear these for the health of your legs.
Filters:
If you have a condition that prevents you from taking blood thinners or would otherwise like a safer way to live, filters may be placed in your vein called the vena cava. This can prevent fatal pulmonary embolisms and make it easier to live with the conditions you have.
Filters do have risks. However, they can help to lower the risk of DVT in the short term and, even more importantly, increase blood flow by clearing clots across your veins. Given the risks, it may seem odd to use them over a long-term period until you reduce the risk of DVT and increase blood flow.
Surgery:
Doctors suggest surgery to remove DVT clots in your arm or leg if they’re causing serious issues. The procedure is typically only recommended in the case of very large DVT clots or if they are causing tissue damage, like an injury.
When performing a thrombectomy, or surgery to remove a blood clot, your surgeon will make an incision into an artery. They’ll locate and remove the clot and then repair any damaged tissue.
Sometimes they will use an inflatable balloon to keep blood vessels open while they remove a clot. If the clot is found and removed soon enough, the balloon will also be removed with it.
Here we have discussed DVT in detail and hope now you are aware of all the causes, symptoms, and other things related to this problem. Make sure you are approaching the doctor on time in order to get the treatment. If you are avoiding the condition, it can be life-threatening too.
FAQ – What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Q. 1 What causes deep vein thrombosis?
Ans: Deep vein thrombosis is a condition that causes blood clots to form in the deep veins of the body, typically in the legs. It is a condition that can lead to serious complications such as pulmonary embolism.
Q. 2 What are the complications of deep vein thrombosis?
Ans: The complications of deep vein thrombosis can be divided into two categories:
1) The first category includes bleeding and infection complications.
2) The second category includes neurological complications such as seizures, stroke and brain damage.
Q. 3 How long does treatment last for a case of deep vein thrombosis?
Ans: The treatment for this condition varies depending on what type of DVT one has, but generally speaking, it lasts for about six weeks.
Q. 4 What can patients do to prevent and treat DVT?
Ans: Patients who are at risk of DVT should take preventive measures. They should avoid activities that put them at risk of DVT, such as prolonged standing or sitting, smoking, and heavy lifting.
Q. 5 Is deep vein thrombosis serious?
Ans: These clots usually form in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis. It is important to monitor for DVT as it can happen to anyone and cause serious health problems that could result in disability or even death.