common symptoms of DVT, which include:
- Redness of the leg
- Leg swelling
- Pain, often in the calf
- Warmth
Despite common symptoms, many individuals afflicted with DVT are entirely asymptomatic. DVT can be diagnosed by physical examination and an ultrasound of the leg. DVT is generally treated with blood-thinning medications that help make the blood less likely to clot, and medications, called thrombolytics, can be injected to break up existing clots.
For chronic DVT, or a person unable to take blood thinners, a filter can be placed in the vena cava (the largest vein in the body) to “catch” clots on the way to the lungs. Compression stockings can help increase “venous return” of blood back to the heart from the lower legs. Elevating the feet on a regular basis is also recommended for prevention of DVT, and regular exercise can help the muscles to squeeze the veins and increase venous return.
Education is key
Like any potentially life-altering or life-threatening condition, knowing the signs and symptoms of DVT can help an individual seek medical treatment in a timely manner. Understanding the causes of DVT is also prudent, as is knowing how to prevent this condition through lifestyle adjustment (e.g.: weight loss, smoking cessation, exercise and avoiding prolonged sitting).
We cannot live in fear of DVT and pulmonary embolism, of course, but we can be educated patients and healthcare consumers who know when to act, and how to prevent the unnecessary complications of this relatively common condition.