October 13 was designated as World Thrombosis Day, making people aware of serious but preventable conditions that are related to blood clots.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when an abnormal blood clot forms in the deep veins of the lower leg, thigh or pelvis (and occasionally the arm or abdomen).
If these blood clots break apart and travel to the lungs, they can cause a life-threatening condition known as pulmonary embolism (PE).
Together, DVT and PE make up a category of diseases known as venous thromboembolism (VTE). In the U.S., an estimated 100,000-300,000 people die each year from VTE, and millions more suffer disability from blood clots forming in the legs or other parts of the body.
VTE can happen to anyone, but there are well-recognized risks for the development of abnormal blood clots, which include:
- Injury to a vein caused by fractures or surgery
- Slowed blood flow in the extremities, such as limited mobility or confinement in bed for a medical condition or sitting for a long time (such as traveling in a car or airplane), especially with legs crossed or underneath the body
- Increased female hormones (birth control pills, estrogen replacement therapy) or pregnancy (up to six weeks after giving birth)
- Certain chronic medical illnesses, such as heart or lung disease or colitis
- Cancer
- A family history of DVT or PE
- Age (risk increases with age)
- Obesity
- A catheter in a vein
- Smoking
- Inherited clotting disorders (such as the Factor V Leiden mutation)
You are at greater risk for developing a blood clot if you have had one in the past; often they form in the same part of the body. About one third of persons who have a blood clot will have another in the future.
Signs and symptoms of a DVT are important to recognize and include pain, redness, heat and swelling of an affected leg or arm. Blood clots in the abdomen can cause abdominal pain.
Contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible should these symptoms occur. DVT can be confirmed or ruled out by an ultrasound or in some cases a blood test. Even though a pulmonary embolism typically comes from a DVT, you DO NOT have to have symptoms of a DVT in order to have a PE. Symptoms of a PE include chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and a rapid heartbeat. Persons with these symptoms should seek emergency attention.
There are a number of things you can do to decrease your chance of having a VTE:
- Move around as soon as your doctor permits after having been confined to bed, or having a surgery, illness, or injury.
- When traveling, get up and walk around at least every two to three hours.
- Exercise your legs while you’re sitting by raising and lowering your toes, keeping your heels on the ground or by writing the alphabet with your feet.
- Maintain a healthy weight and avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
- Stop smoking.
- Stay well hydrated.
If you have had a VTE, either a DVT or a PE, you will be prescribed medication to treat it. Both DVT and PE are treated with blood thinners (also known as anticoagulants), which keep the blood clot from getting larger while your body destroys it.
A number of different blood thinners are approved for treating VTE. Like all medications, these have different properties that your healthcare provider will consider in determining which medicine is right for you.
It is important to take these medicines as directed by your doctor. Not doing so may actually increase your chances of having another blood clot. The length of time you need to use them depends on the type of blood clot you had, the seriousness of the blood clot, and most importantly, your own personal risk factors for recurrence.
