A condition in which a blood clot forms in the deep veins of your body usually in the area of legs refers to Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It can cause swelling or leg pain. Deep vein thrombosis can also occur in people without any symptoms.
You can suffer from DVT if you are suffering from some medical conditions that affect the clotting of your blood. If you do not move your leg for a long time then a blood clot can also form in your leg.
People who don’t move their legs after an accident or surgery for a long time can also have blood clots in their legs. Even when you are at bed rest or traveling a long distance, a blood clot can form in your legs. Deep vein thrombosis sometimes proves dangerous for people.
The reason is that blood clots break loose sometimes that travel through the bloodstream. It gets stuck in the area of the lungs and blocks blood flow. This condition is known as pulmonary embolism.
There is no evidence for the occurrence of pulmonary embolism. When pulmonary embolism and DVT occur at the same time, it refers to venous thromboembolism.
Symptoms Of Deep Vein Thrommbosis
Signs and symptoms of DVT include:
- Pain in the area of your leg. Pain starts in the calf and makes you feel soreness or cramping.
- The discolored or red skin of the leg.
- Swelling in the affected part of the leg. Swelling in both legs is rare.
- Warmth feeling in the affected leg.
You can suffer from DVT even without showing any symptoms of it.
When You Should Visit A Doctor
Contact the health professional if you are developing signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. Immediately seek emergency care and medical help if you are developing the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism that is a life-threatening complication of DVT.
Pulmonary embolism’s warning signs and symptoms include:
- Rapid breathing
- Rapid pulse
- Feeling dizzy, fainting, or lightheaded
- Coughing up blood
- Sudden breath shortness
- Discomfort or chest pain becomes worse when you cough or take a deep breath
Causes Of Deep Vein Thrombosis
Anything that inhibits your blood to clot normally or disrupts its flow can lead to a blood clot. Damage of any ven after the surgery can cause deep vein thrombosis. Any trauma or inflammation from the injury or infection can also induce this condition.
Risk Factors For Deep Vein Thrombosis
There are different things that can enhance the risk of developing the condition of deep vein thrombosis. The more risk factors people have the more risk of deep vein thrombosis is present in them. Some risk factors for this disease are given below.
- Age
If you are older than 60 then you are at risk of developing DVT. But it can also occur at any age.
- Sitting For A Long Time Period
When your legs remain in one position for many hours, for example during driving or flying, then your muscles of the calf do not contract which may lead to DVT. Contraction of muscles normally helps the circulation of blood.
- Prolonged Bed Rest
Try to avoid prolonged bed rest until you are bound to take it due to any emergency situation. A paralysis or long hospital stay can induce the condition of DVT. Blood clots form in your leg calves and the calf muscles do not contract for a long time period.
- Surgery Or Injury
Surgery or any injury to the veins enhances the risk of developing blood clots.
- Pregnancy
The condition of pregnancy enhances pressure in the veins of your legs and pelvis. Specifically, women with inherited clotting disorder are at higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis. The risk for developing blood clots remains after your delivery for six weeks.
- Hormone Replacement Therapy Or Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, both enhance the ability to clot.
- Being Obese
Being overweight enhances the pressure in the areas of your pelvis and legs that can lead to the formation of blood clots.
- Smoking
Smoking affects circulation and blood clotting which enhances your risk of developing the DVT condition.
- Cancer
Some types of cancers enhance substances in human blood. It can cause blood clotting. There are some treatments of cancer that put you at risk to develop deep vein thrombosis.
- Heart Failure
It increases the risk of having pulmonary embolism and DVT. The reason is that people with heart failure do not have proper functions of the lungs and heart. Even the small pulmonary embolism in these people is noticeable.
