MHVI Owners Manual . Conditions . Deep Vein Thrombosis

What Is It?
Veins in your legs either lie close to the skin or are buried much deeper in the leg tissue. It is the deep veins that have the primary responsibility for returning the blood to the heart and lungs. These deep veins can weaken over time and may become partially or completely blocked by blood clots, causing a condition known as deep vein thrombosis or DVT. By far the most common veins to develop clots are those in your legs.

Symptoms
The extent of the blockage will determine the severity of symptoms you experience. If the clot is small you may feel nothing at all, or you may have the following symptoms in the affected leg:

Swelling
Pain or tenderness
Redness or discoloration
Feeling of warmth or heat when you touch the affected area

The major concern with DVT is that a piece of the clot will break off and travel through the veins until it reaches the lungs. This piece of traveling clot is called an embolus. The embolus can then become lodged in a blood vessel in the lungs causing what is known as a pulmonary embolism. The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism occur quickly and require immediate medical attention. They include:

Sharp chest pain that often is worse on a deep breath
Difficulty in breathing
Rapid heart rate
A cough that brings up pink- or red-tinged mucous

If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Pulmonary embolism can be successfully treated, but you need to seek medical care as soon as possible.

DVT can occur after an injury to an extremity. However, there are several other risk factors that can increase your chances of developing this condition. These include prolonged bedrest or inactivity, being overweight, liver disease, congestive heart failure, recent surgery, and a family history of clots in veins. Certain hormone treatments can also increase your risk.

Treatment
As with most cardiovascular disease, treatment for DVT includes a combination of medication and lifestyle changes.

The primary treatment for DVT is medication that thins the blood and makes the blood clot less easily. Blood thinners-the main one is a drug called heparin—are usually given through an IV initially then in pill form (coumadin) for three to six months. A newer treatment requires you to give yourself injections of a special blood thinner called low molecular weight heparin. This treatment may result in earlier discharge from the hospital. If leg swelling persists, support stockings may be prescribed.

In addition, your doctor will advise you on lifestyle changes that will help to decrease your risk factors.
If you are a smoker, you will need to quit as quickly as possible.
As you recover, your doctor will work with you to develop an appropriate exercise program. Because inactivity can contribute to DVT, it will be especially helpful to gradually increase your exercise tolerance and incorporate regular physical activity into your daily routine.