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DVT Symptoms

 
DVT symptoms may occur at any time, especially to women. It can be life threatening and worse, complications are fatal. To deal with DVT symptoms, it is best to know the condition, the causative factors, the risk factors, the manifestations and treatment needed. 
 

What is DVT?

 
Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT, is a blood clot forming in the deep veins of the body. Most of the deep vein blood clots develop in the lower leg or thigh, but they can also occur in other parts of the body.
 
Blood clots develop when blood thickens and clumps together. This condition is often asymptomatic, such that it remains undetected until the person affected develops a symptomatic pulmonary embolus. A blood clot in the vein can break off and travel in the bloodstream.
 
When a blood clot breaks off and travel, it is called an embolus. This embolus have the tendency to travel to the lungs and blocks the blood flow, medically known as Pulmonary Embolism, which is the worst and life-threatening complication of DVT.
 
Blood clots in the thigh are more probable to breaking off, compared to those in the lower legs or other parts of the body. 
 

DVT Causes

 
DVT Symptoms are known to be caused by sitting for long periods without exercising the leg muscles. People who are susceptible to sitting for lengthy periods without having to move a muscle of the leg are prone in developing DVT symptoms. 
 
DVT symptoms develop when these three major factors start to develop. These factors are:
 
  • Pooling of blood in the veins or medically termed as venous stasis. This is usually the result of immobility, old age and heart failure
  • Damage to the vein due to trauma or local pressure
  • Higher blood coagulation or the increased tendency of the blood to clot. This is sometimes seen in clotting disorders, use of oral contraceptives, pregnancy, dehydration and certain cancers.
 

Risk Factors for DVT

 
DVT may affect anyone. Risk factors in developing DVT symptoms include the following:
 
  • Individuals who are aging 60 years old and below. This age group is more prone to developing DVT due to less mobility and physical movement.
  • People who are obese and overweight. This group tends to move less due to heaviness. Moving lesser than normal may increase the chances of having DVT symptoms.
  • Inherited blood clotting condition
  • Injury or a surgery that may reduce blood flow to every part of the body
  • Pregnancy
  • Intake of oral contraceptives, hormone therapy or birth control pills
  • Presence of a central venous catheter. This happens usually for patients in the hospital.
 

DVT Symptoms

 
Most cases of DVT occur without symptoms until Pulmonary Embolism is detected. The common affectation is the lower extremities. However, possible symptoms may include the following:
 
  • Leg pain, swelling, and tenderness. Commonly, one leg is affected and it is usually the calf. The pain may be made worse by bending the foot upward towards the knee.
  • Heaviness in the affected area
  • Warm skin in the area where blood clot is
  • Skin redness, specifically at the back of the leg, just below the knee
 
If DVT symptoms are left untreated, pulmonary embolism may develop. The embolus in pulmonary embolism originally came from the blood clot sit and lodged in the lungs, causing a life-threatening condition. When pulmonary embolism occurs, the following signs and symptoms are manifested:
 
  • Breathlessness, may it be gradual or sudden
  • Chest Pain that commonly worsens when a person inhales or breathes in
  • Sudden Collapse
 
Both DVT and Pulmonary Embolism are serious conditions that need to be attended with urgent, proper and efficient medical care. It is best to know, however, that there are certain medical conditions that can cause manifestations just the same as DVT symptoms.
 
Conditions such as muscle ache and tears, superficial thrombophlebitis, varicose veins and arterial blood clots, arthritis, infection of tissue under the skin or cellulitis, bone fracture and swelling of the hands and feet due to excessive fluid retention or known as lymphedema may have signs and symptoms almost similar to Deep vein Thrombosis. A proper diagnosis from the doctor is then necessary.
 

Diagnosing DVT Symptoms

 
The doctor generally performs a thorough physical assessment, plus obtaining the medical history, health details and current symptoms felt. Since DVT symptoms are shared and may be the same with other medical conditions, one or more special tests are needed to confirm diagnosis of DVT symptoms. To diagnose DVT, it includes the following:
 
  • Venography. This involves having a special X-ray to help obtain and see the anatomy of the veins. At times, it can help see a blood clot. The doctor injects a radioactive dye into the vein on top of the foot, which helps highlight the veins on the x-ray monitor. This can be real accurate but a little risky. It may risk a person to having increase chances of additional blood clots.
  • Duplex Ultrasound. This test is painless and noninvasive. The use of high frequency sound waves that bounce off inside the body helps produce images of the blood vessels. Prior to the test, the radiographer applies a warm gel on the skin and moves the ultrasound probe over the area. The probe sends sound waves to the body, which sends back an echoing wave in the monitor producing images of the blood vessels and in some cases blood clots can be seen, yet less sensitive to finding blood clots that are very deep within the body. This test requires a skilled professional to have accurate results. 
 
DVT symptoms may just be similar to certain medical conditions, but having such manifestation may not be neglected. May it be DVT symptoms or not, a visit to the doctor for further tests and proper treatment is deemed necessary.
 
Having DVT symptoms may affect the routine life responsibilities an individual have and it is best to seek proper medical attention to be free of further worsening and fatal complications.