How Do You Know if You Have a Dvt in Your Leg

Overview

What is deep vein thrombosis?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT, likewise called venous thrombosis) is a blood clot that develops in a vein deep in the body. The jell may partially or completely block blood period through the vein. Virtually DVTs occur in the lower leg, thigh or pelvis, although they also tin can occur in other parts of the body including the arm, brain, intestines, liver or kidney.

What is the danger of DVT?

Even though DVT itself is not life-threatening, the blood clot has the potential to break gratuitous and travel through the bloodstream, where it can become lodged in the blood vessels of the lung (known as a pulmonary embolism). This can exist a life- threatening condition. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment are necessary.

DVT can also atomic number 82 to complications in the legs referred to as chronic venous insufficiency or the mail service-thrombotic syndrome. This condition is characterized by pooling of blood, chronic leg swelling, increased pressure level, increased pigmentation or discoloration of the skin, and leg ulcers known as venous stasis ulcers.

What is the departure betwixt DVT and a superficial venous thrombosis?

A superficial venous thrombosis (likewise called phlebitis or superficial thrombophlebitis) is a blood jell that develops in a vein close to the surface of the skin. These types of blood clots practice not ordinarily travel to the lungs unless they move from the superficial organisation into the deep venous system first.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of DVT?

A DVT ordinarily forms in one leg or one arm. Not everyone with a DVT will have symptoms, simply symptoms tin can include:

• Swelling of the leg or arm (sometimes this happens suddenly)
• Pain or tenderness in the leg (may only happen when standing or walking)
• The surface area of the leg or arm that is swollen or hurts may be warmer than usual
• Peel that is red or discolored
• The veins well-nigh the skin's surface may be larger than normal

Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include:

• Sudden shortness of breath or fast breathing
• Sharp breast pain that oft comes with cough or movement
• Pain in the back
• Cough (sometimes with bloody sputum/phlegm)
• Sweating more than normal
• Fast heartbeat
• Feeling lightheaded or fainting

Some people do not know they have a DVT until the clot moves from their leg or arm and travels to their lung.

It is of import to telephone call your doctor right abroad or get to the emergency room if you have symptoms of a pulmonary embolism or DVT. Do not wait to see if the symptoms "become away." Get treatment correct away to prevent serious complications.

What causes a DVT?

The post-obit atmospheric condition can increase your take chances of a DVT:

• An inherited (genetic) condition that increases your risk of blood clots
• Cancer and some of its treatments (chemotherapy)
• Limited blood flow in a deep vein, due to injury, surgery, or immobilization
• Long periods of inactivity that subtract blood flow, such as:
  • Sitting for a long period of time on trips in a auto, truck, bus, train or airplane
  • Immobility after surgery or a serious injury
• Pregnancy and the first vi weeks after giving nativity
• Existence over historic period twoscore (although a DVT can affect people of any age)
• Being overweight
• Taking nascence control pills or hormone therapy
• Having a fundamental venous catheter or pacemaker

Diagnosis and Tests

How is DVT diagnosed?

An appointment to find out if you have a DVT includes an exam and review of your medical history. You will also need testing. Common tests to diagnose a DVT are:

A duplex venous ultrasound. This is the most mutual exam used to diagnose a DVT. It shows the blood catamenia in the veins and any claret clots that exist. An ultrasound technician will apply pressure while scanning your arm or leg. If the pressure does non cause the vein to compress, it could mean there is a blood jell.

Venography. This examination uses X-rays to prove your deep veins. A special dye (contrast fabric) is injected into your veins so the 10-rays show the veins and whatever claret clots. Any blockage in blood flow may likewise be seen. Venography may be used if the results of the duplex ultrasound aren't clear.

Other tests you may take include:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Magnetic Resonance Venography (MRV): MRI shows pictures of organs and structures inside the torso, and MRV shows pictures of the blood vessels in the body. In many cases, MRI and MRV can offer more data than an X-ray.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan is a type of X-ray that shows structures inside the body. A CT scan may exist used to find a DVT in the abdomen or pelvis, as well every bit blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism).

If your medico thinks you may accept a genetic disorder that causes blood clots, yous may need claret tests. This may be important if:

• You have a history of blood clots that cannot be linked to any other cause
• You have a blood jell in an unusual location, such as in a vein from the intestines, liver, kidney or brain
• You have a potent family history of claret clots

Management and Treatment

Activity Guidelines

A DVT may make it harder for yous to get around at first. You should slowly return to your normal activities. If your legs feel swollen or heavy, prevarication in bed with your heels propped upwardly about five to 6 inches. This helps amend apportionment and decreases swelling.

In improver:

• Exercise your lower leg muscles if y'all are sitting still for long periods of time.
• Stand up and walk for a few minutes every hour while awake.
• Don't wear tight-fitting clothing that could decrease the circulation in your legs.
• Wear compression stockings as recommended by your md.
• Avert activities that may cause a serious injury.

What treatments are available for patients with a DVT?

Patients with a DVT may need to be treated in the hospital. Others may be able to accept outpatient treatment.

Treatments include medications, pinch stockings and elevating the affected leg. If the blood clot is extensive, you may demand more invasive testing and treatment. The main goals of treatment are to:

• Stop the clot from getting bigger
• Prevent the clot from breaking off in your vein and moving to your lungs
• Reduce the risk of some other blood clot
• Prevent long-term complications from the blood clot (chronic venous insufficiency).

Medications

Important Information Near Medications

• Take your medications exactly as your doctor tells you to.
• Have blood tests as directed by your physician and go along all scheduled laboratory appointments.
• Do not stop or start taking any medication (including nonprescription/over-the-counter medications and supplements) without asking your doctor.
• Talk to your doctor nearly your diet. You may need to make changes, depending on the medication you have.

Handling for a DVT tin include:

Anticoagulants ("blood thinners"). This blazon of medication makes information technology harder for your claret to clot. Anticoagulants also stop clots from getting bigger and forbid blood clots from moving. Anticoagulants do not destroy clots. Your body may naturally dissolve a clot, just sometimes clots exercise not completely disappear.

There are different types of anticoagulants. Your doctor will talk to you about the best type of medication for you.

If you lot need to take an anticoagulant, yous may only need to accept it for 3 to half dozen months. But, your treatment time may be unlike if:

• You accept had clots before, your treatment fourth dimension may exist longer.
• You are existence treated for another illness (such as cancer), you may need to take an anticoagulant as long as your take a chance of a jell is college.

The most mutual side effect of anticoagulants is bleeding. You should phone call your doctor right away if you lot notice that you bruise or bleed hands while taking this medication.

Compression Stockings

You will probable demand to wear graduated compression stockings to get rid of leg swelling. The swelling is often because the valves in the leg veins are damaged or the vein is blocked by the DVT.Most compression stockings are worn only below the knee. These stockings are tight at the talocrural joint and get more loose as they go up the leg. This causes gentle pressure (compression) on your leg.

DVT Handling Procedures

Vena cava filters are used when you cannot take medications to thin your blood or if you have blood clots while taking this type of medication. The filter prevents blood clots from moving from the vein in your legs to the lung (pulmonary embolism). The filter is put in place during minor surgery. It is inserted through a catheter into a large vein in the groin or neck, and then into the vena cava (the largest vein in the body). One time in identify, the filter catches clots as they move through the body. This treatment helps prevent a pulmonary embolism, but does not prevent the germination of more clots.

Prevention

Can a DVT be prevented?

After you take a DVT, you volition need to reduce your risk of future clots by:

• Taking your medications exactly as your doctor tells you to.
• Keeping your follow-up appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. These are needed to see how well your treatment is working.

If you have never had a DVT , but have an increased risk of developing one, be sure to:

• Exercise your lower leg muscles if yous need to sit down still for a long time. Stand and walk at to the lowest degree every half 60 minutes if y'all are on a long flight. Or become out of the car every hour if you are on a long road trip.
• Get out of bed and motility around every bit soon as you lot can after you are sick or take surgery. The sooner y'all move around, the less chance you have of developing a jell.
• Accept medications or employ compression stockings after surgery (if prescribed past your doctor) to reduce your take chances of a clot.
• Follow-up with your doctor as directed to and follow your doctor's recommendations to reduce your risk of a jell.

Resources

Doctors vary in quality due to differences in grooming and experience; hospitals differ in the number of services available. The more complex your medical trouble, the greater these differences in quality become and the more than they matter.

Clearly, the doctor and hospital that you choose for complex, specialized medical intendance will take a directly affect on how well you do. To help yous brand this option, delight review our Miller Family unit Center, Vascular & Thoracic Institute Outcomes.

Cleveland Dispensary Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute Vascular Medicine Specialists and Surgeons

Choosing a physician to treat your vascular disease depends on where you are in your diagnosis and treatment. The following Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Establish Sections and Departments treat patients with all types of vascular illness, including blood clotting disorders:

Section of Vascular Medicine: for evaluation, medical management or interventional procedures to care for vascular disease. In improver, the Non-Invasive Laboratory includes state-of-the fine art computerized imaging equipment to assist in diagnosing vascular disease, without added discomfort to the patient. Phone call Vascular Medicine Appointments, toll-free 800-223-2273, extension 44420 or request an engagement online.

Department of Vascular Surgery: surgery evaluation for surgical treatment of vascular disease, including aorta, peripheral avenue, and venous disease. Call Vascular Surgery Appointments, price-free 800-223-2273, extension 44508 or request an appointment online.

You may also use our MyConsult second opinion consultation using the Internet.

The Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Constitute also has specialized centers and clinics to treat certain populations of patients:

• Aorta Center
• Thrombosis Center
• Lower Extremity Wound Dispensary
• FMD Clinic
• SCAD Clinic

Learn more well-nigh experts who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular and arterial disease.

• See Near Us to larn more about the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family unit Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.

Contact

If you need more information, click here to contact us, conversation online with a nurse or telephone call the Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute Resource & Information Nurse at 216.445.9288 or toll-costless at 866.289.6911. Nosotros would be happy to help you lot.

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Our webchats and video chats requite patients and visitors another opportunity to ask questions and interact with our physicians.

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Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16911-deep-vein-thrombosis-dvt

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