Deep vein thrombosis is a life-threatening condition since the clot can break free and move to your lungs. Living with the condition can give you sleepless nights, worrying that the worst can happen at any time. Luckily, the effects of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in East Orlando can be prevented with early detection and treatment.
Causes of Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis can occur because of various factors. One significant factor is your age, especially if you are above forty years for women and forty-five to sixty years for men. If there is a family history of the disease, your chance of contracting the disease is higher.
Other significant factors of developing deep vein thrombosis are if you have personally experienced the disease in the past, if you have a blood clotting disorder or if you sustain injuries in your veins, if you are experiencing other health conditions such as heart disease, if you sit for long periods of time without having a break to stretch, or if you are on a bed rest for an extended period, there is a high possibility of you getting it again.
Deep Vein Thrombosis Complications
Some complications develop from deep vein thrombosis. In case you experience such a complication, you are advised to visit your doctor immediately. These are:
- Signs of pulmonary embolism are sudden shortness of breath, rapid pulse and breathing, coughing blood, or chest pain, especially when you cough or breathe in.
- Treatment complications may arise if you are using blood-thinning medication.
- Postphlebitic syndrome signs swelling and pain in your legs, skin sores, and change of skin color.
Even though sometimes deep vein thrombosis fails to show symptoms, there are several signs you can look for which include: swelling in your leg, if your leg color turns red or discolored, if the skin of your leg is warm or noticeably hard, red swollen veins, and persistent pain in your leg as you walk and stand.
Diagnosis of DVT
When you go for deep vein thrombosis diagnosis, your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and carry out a physical examination to look for skin color change, swelling, and tenderness.
If your doctor believes you are at a higher risk of contracting the disease, you will go for further tests like duplex ultrasound to check your blood in your veins. Your doctor can perform this test for some days to check for new blood clots or whether the clot is increasing in size.
Treatment
After your doctor diagnoses you with deep vein thrombosis, immediate treatment is administered.
Medication
Your doctor may prescribe anticoagulants to stop the blood clot from increasing in size and preventing you from getting a new blood clot. If your blood clots are severe, putting you at risk of contracting pulmonary embolism, and if they are in your arm and not your leg, your doctor will recommend a thrombolytic drug which is placed directly on the clot through a catheter. The medication will dissolve the clot and reinstate blood flow.
If you cannot use blood thinners, your doctor will recommend you have a filter placed into your abdomen in a large vein to stop blood clots that break away from accessing your lungs.
To avoid complications caused by deep vein thrombosis, call or book an appointment online with Vascular Vein Centers.