DVT Leg Symptoms
DVT or Deep vein Thrombosis may be a common condition especially for people aging 60 years and up.
Deep vein thrombosis is the condition where a blood clot develops or occurs in one of the deep veins, commonly in our thighs, legs and calves.
The blockage of the blood clot may either be complete or partial. This condition is more common in the elderly and obese patients.
Women are more prone to having DVT compared to men.
Causes of DVT
DVT comes from a lot of causes and risk factors. Risks for having DVT include prolonged bedrest, prolonged sitting, immobility, surgery or trauma that could have affected the vein, fractures, pregnancy, childbirth and use of oral contraceptives.
DVT Symptoms
DVT are mostly asymptomatic to most people affected with it. However, if manifested, DVT symptoms are mostly manifested in the lower extremities, such that considered as DVT leg symptoms. Mostly, the affected parts of the lower extremities are the thighs and calves.
In most cases, only one leg is affected. DVT leg symptoms include the following:
- Pain and tenderness in the leg and usually felt only when walking or standing
- Swelling of the leg
- Change in skin color in the affected area
- Redness in the affected area
- Increased warmth in the area of the swollen leg
If these DVT leg symptoms start to manifest, it is highly essential to consult a doctor to prevent worsening of condition and acquiring fatal complication, which is the Pulmonary Embolism.
Prevention of DVT Leg Symptoms
The goal of preventing development of DVT leg symptoms is to be free from life threatening complication that is Pulmonary Embolism, control occurrence of blood clot and worsening the condition, and control the recurrence of the condition.
To prevent development of DVT leg symptoms, consider wearing compression stockings at all times. The pressure helps reduce the instance of pooling of blood. When traveling for lengthy hours, may it be by air sea or land, walk up and down the aisle every couple of hours.
While sitting, exercise calf muscles by pulling the toes upward towards the knees for a number of times each hour. Stay hydrated as well by drinking water and wear loose-fitting clothes. Avoid intake of caffeine and alcoholic beverages.
If you experienced DVT leg symptoms before, prevent occurrence of future clots by taking the medicines as prescribed by the doctor. Make sure to follow the medication regimen given and regularly follow-up with your doctor for changes in medications and routine blood tests.
When you had surgery or illness, make sure to get out of the bed and walk around as soon as advised by the doctor. The doctors will usually prescribed medications to prevent blood clots. Make sure to take the prescribed medicines as directed.
DVT leg symptoms may further lead to a life threatening complication called as Pulmonary Embolism. This happens when the blood clot breaks off and travels along with the blood into the pulmonary circulation.
When the blood clot is in the lungs, fatal possibilities may develop. Treatments for DVT leg symptoms should be observed and followed as prescribed to prevent having Pulmonary Embolism and eventually death.
