Though it's generally believed that the condition develops 5 to 10 years after DVT, a clinical review of post-thrombotic syndrome, published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis in , suggests that symptoms may plateau one to two years later.
The researchers note that a third of those who develop severe post-thrombotic syndrome have symptoms that continue to worsen six years after their initial DVT diagnosis. When it comes to reducing complications associated with DVT , including post-thrombotic syndrome, prevention is key. Cho says. For those who already have a history, their risk is even higher, so they need to take more precautions.
This may include taking blood-thinning medications, known as anticoagulants , for the rest of your life. Aside from medication, if you experience swelling after DVT, it's important to wear fitted compression stockings to improve blood flow throughout the day while you're sitting or standing. Various types exist including above-the-knee stockings for swelling in the thigh, and sleeves known as gauntlets , for arm swelling or pain. Your doctor can tell you what would be best for you.
If compression stockings are not effective, your doctor may recommend that you use a device called a compression pump to improve blood flow. Swimming, in particular, can help, Cho says, because "the hydrostatic pressure of water helps reduce swelling in the limbs. Certain over-the-counter and prescription medications can also help ease pain associated with post-thrombotic syndrome.
But, if you're taking a blood-thinning medication, you should not take drugs that contain aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen , because NSAIDs increase bleeding risk. Anyone can develop DVT, but it becomes more common over the age of As well as age, there are also some other risk factors, including:. The combined contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy HRT both contain the female hormone oestrogen, which causes the blood to clot more easily.
If you're taking either of these, your risk of developing DVT is slightly increased. Read more about the causes of DVT. See your GP as soon as possible if you think you may have DVT — for example, if you have pain, swelling and a heavy ache in your leg. They'll ask you about your symptoms and medical history. It can be difficult to diagnose DVT from symptoms alone.
Your GP may advise that you have a specialised blood test called a D-dimer test. This test detects pieces of blood clot that have been broken down and are loose in your bloodstream. The larger the number of fragments found, the more likely it is that you have a blood clot in your vein. However, the D-dimer test isn't always reliable because blood clot fragments can increase after an operation, injury or during pregnancy.
Additional tests, such as an ultrasound scan, will need to be carried out to confirm DVT. An ultrasound scan can be used to detect clots in your veins. A special type of ultrasound called a Doppler ultrasound can also be used to find out how fast the blood is flowing through a blood vessel. This helps doctors identify when blood flow is slowed or blocked, which could be caused by a blood clot.
A venogram may be used if the results of a D-dimer test and ultrasound scan can't confirm a diagnosis of DVT. During a venogram, a liquid called a contrast dye is injected into a vein in your foot. The dye travels up the leg and can be detected by X-ray , which will highlight a gap in the blood vessel where a clot is stopping the flow of blood. Treatment for DVT usually involves taking anticoagulant medicines.
These reduce the blood's ability to clot and stop existing clots getting bigger. Heparin and warfarin are 2 types of anticoagulant often used to treat DVT. Heparin is usually prescribed first because it works immediately to prevent further clotting. After initial treatment, you may also need to take warfarin to prevent another blood clot forming.
These medications include rivaroxaban and apixaban, and they've been shown to be as effective as heparin and warfarin with less serious side effects. You'll also be prescribed compression stockings to wear every day, which will improve your symptoms and help prevent complications. Read more about treating DVT. If you need to go into hospital for surgery, a member of your care team will assess your risk of developing a blood clot while you're there.
If you're at risk of developing DVT, there are a number of things you can do to prevent a blood clot occurring, both before you go into hospital. These include temporarily stopping taking the combined contraceptive pill, and while you're in hospital, such as wearing compression stockings.
When you leave hospital, your care team may also make some recommendations to help prevent DVT returning or complications developing. These may include:. When taking a long-distance journey 6 hours or more by plane, train or car, you should take steps to avoid getting DVT. Drink plenty of water, perform simple leg exercises and take regular, short walking breaks.
Read more about preventing DVT. When you're inactive your blood tends to collect in the lower parts of your body, often in your lower legs. This is usually nothing to worry about because when you start to move, your blood flow increases and moves evenly around your body. However, if you're unable to move for a long period of time — such as after an operation, because of an illness or injury, or during a long journey — your blood flow can slow down considerably.
A slow blood flow increases the chances of a blood clot forming. If you have to go into hospital for an operation or procedure, your risk of getting a blood clot increases. This is because DVT is more likely to occur when you're unwell or inactive, or less active than usual.
As a patient, your risk of developing DVT depends on the type of treatment you're having. You may be at increased risk of DVT if any of the following apply:. You may also be at increased risk of DVT if you're much less active than usual because of an operation or serious injury and have other DVT risk factors, such as a family history of the condition. When you're admitted to hospital you'll be assessed for your risk of developing a blood clot and, if necessary, given preventative treatment.
If the wall of a blood vessel is damaged, it may become narrowed or blocked, which can cause a blood clot to form. Blood vessels can be damaged by injuries such as broken bones or severe muscle damage. Sometimes, blood vessel damage that occurs during surgery can cause a blood clot, particularly in operations on the lower half of your body.
Conditions such as vasculitis inflammation of the blood vessels , varicose veins and some forms of medication, such as chemotherapy , can also damage blood vessels. Your risk of getting DVT is increased if you have a condition that causes your blood to clot more easily than normal. These conditions include:. During pregnancy, blood clots more easily. It's the body's way of preventing too much blood being lost during childbirth. DVTs are also rare in pregnancy, although pregnant women are up to 10 times more likely to develop thrombosis than non-pregnant women of the same age.
A clot can form at any stage of pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after the birth. Having thrombophilia a condition where the blood has an increased tendency to clot , or having a parent, or brother or sister, who's had a thrombosis, increase your risk of developing a DVT during pregnancy. LMWH is an anticoagulant, which means it prevents the blood clot getting bigger.
It's given by injection and doesn't affect your developing baby. The combined contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy HRT both contain the female hormone oestrogen. Oestrogen causes the blood to clot a bit more easily than normal, so your risk of getting DVT is slightly increased. There's no increased risk from the progestogen-only contraceptive pill. Anticoagulant medicines prevent blood clots getting bigger.
They can also help stop part of the blood clot breaking off and becoming lodged in another part of your bloodstream an embolism. Although they're often referred to as "blood-thinning" medicines, anticoagulants don't actually thin the blood. They alter proteins within it, which prevents clots forming so easily.
Heparin and warfarin are 2 types of anticoagulants that are used to treat DVT. After this initial treatment, you may also need to take warfarin to prevent another blood clot forming.
The dose of standard unfractionated heparin to treat a blood clot varies significantly from person to person, so the dosage must be carefully monitored and adjusted if necessary.
You may need to stay in hospital for 5 to 10 days and have frequent blood tests to ensure you receive the right dose. LMWH works differently from standard heparin. It contains small molecules, which means its effects are more reliable and you won't have to stay in hospital and be monitored. In rare cases, heparin can also cause an extreme reaction that makes existing blood clots worse and causes new clots to develop.
This reaction, and weakening of your bones, is less likely to occur when taking LMWH. Warfarin is taken as a tablet. You may need to take it after initial treatment with heparin to prevent further blood clots occurring. Your doctor may recommend that you take warfarin for 3 to 6 months. Deep vein thrombosis DVT occurs when a blood clot thrombus forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs.
Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain or swelling but also can occur with no symptoms. You can get DVT if you have certain medical conditions that affect how your blood clots. A blood clot in your legs can also happen if you don't move for a long time, such as after you have surgery or an accident, when you're traveling a long distance, or when you're on bed rest.
Deep vein thrombosis can be very serious because blood clots in your veins can break loose, travel through your bloodstream and get stuck in your lungs, blocking blood flow pulmonary embolism.
However, pulmonary embolism can occur with no evidence of DVT. Pulmonary embolism PE occurs when a blood clot gets lodged in an artery in the lung, blocking blood flow to part of the lung. Blood clots most often start in the legs and travel up through the right side of the heart and into the lungs. This is called DVT. If you develop signs or symptoms of DVT , contact your doctor. If you develop signs or symptoms of a pulmonary embolism PE — a life-threatening complication of deep vein thrombosis — seek emergency medical help.
The main causes of DVT are damage to a vein from surgery or trauma and inflammation due to infection or injury. Many things can increase your risk of developing DVT. The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk of DVT. Risk factors for DVT include:. Pulmonary embolism PE. PE is a potentially life-threatening complication associated with DVT. It occurs when a blood vessel in your lung becomes blocked by a blood clot thrombus that travels to your lung from another part of your body, usually your leg.
It's important to get immediate medical help if you have signs and symptoms of PE. Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain while inhaling or coughing, rapid breathing, rapid pulse, feeling faint or fainting, and coughing up blood may occur with a PE.
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