Deep vein thrombosis is a serious medical condition when a blood clot forms within a vein. The deep vein is usually located in a person's leg. If the clot travels to the lungs, heart, or other organs death can result in just a few hours. Deep vein thrombosis symptoms include swelling of the legs, pain in the legs, and redness in the leg. The affected leg can also feel warmer to the touch.
People can suffer from deep vein thrombosis symptoms for a variety of reasons. Those who sit for an extended period of time in planes, trains, or cars, could develop a blood clot in a vein. When a person smokes cigarettes, he or she has a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis.
Women who are pregnant or who have recently given birth can also suffer from a blood clot in the leg. Even women who take birth control pills may be at risk for this medical condition. People with cancer, heart failure, and other serious diseases can suffer from deep vein thrombosis as well.
When a doctor suspects that a patient has a blood clot in the deep vein, he or she will conduct a physical examination of the patient. The doctor will then conduct a series of tests to determine if the patient has deep vein thrombosis. Ultrasounds, blood tests, and x-rays may be used to diagnose the patient. A patient may also undergo a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
If a patient is diagnosed with a blood clot in the deep vein, the doctor will treat the clot so that it does not grow larger. The treatment will also prevent the clot from traveling to the body's organs. Finally, treatment ensures that a blood clot will not reform.
The doctor can choose to help the patient by employing several types of treatment. He or she may prescribe blood thinners, medications designed to limit the blood's ability to clot, or other medications that act as filters, capturing the blood clot so that it is not permitted to travel throughout the body. The blood then has the ability to pass through the veins efficiently. Compression socks may be given to the patient to help alleviate pain and swelling within the legs. When these methods do not work, the doctor may recommend surgery to remove the blood clot from the deep vein.
Deep vein thrombosis is a serious medical condition that requires immediate medical attention. If people ignore the initial deep vein thrombosis symptoms, they are at risk of developing breathing problems, chest pains, and other critical symptoms that can lead to a life-threatening situation. Doctors can quickly assess a patient's deep vein thrombosis symptoms and provide medical treatment that can save the patient's life.