What are the warning signs of DVT in different body parts. How can you recognize a blood clot before it becomes life-threatening. What measures can be taken to prevent DVT and its complications.

Understanding Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): A Silent Threat

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a serious medical condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins of the body, typically in the legs or arms. While blood clots are essential for stopping bleeding from injuries, they can become dangerous when they form inappropriately or fail to dissolve naturally.

DVT can develop without obvious symptoms, making it a silent threat to one’s health. When left untreated, it can lead to severe complications, including pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening. Understanding the signs and symptoms of DVT in various parts of the body is crucial for early detection and prompt medical intervention.

Recognizing DVT Symptoms in the Legs and Arms

The legs are the most common site for DVT, especially in individuals who remain sedentary for extended periods. Recognizing the symptoms early can be lifesaving. Here are the key indicators to watch for:

• Swelling in the affected limb
• Pain or tenderness, often described as a cramping sensation
• Warmth in the affected area
• Redness or discoloration of the skin
• Visible surface veins

Is leg pain always a sign of DVT? Not necessarily. While leg pain is a common symptom, it’s important to note that DVT can occur without any pain. The presence of swelling, especially if it’s accompanied by other symptoms, should prompt immediate medical attention.

Pitting Edema: A Telltale Sign

One distinctive feature of DVT-related swelling is pitting edema. When pressure is applied to the swollen area, it leaves a temporary indentation or “pit” in the skin. This occurs due to the accumulation of fluid in the tissues and can be a valuable diagnostic clue for healthcare professionals.

The Heart: When Blood Clots Become Life-Threatening

Blood clots that form in or around the heart can lead to a heart attack, a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. The symptoms of a heart-related blood clot include:

• Severe chest pain, often described as crushing or squeezing
• Pain radiating to the arm, shoulder, or jaw
• Shortness of breath
• Profuse sweating
• Nausea or lightheadedness

Can heart-related blood clots occur without warning? In some cases, yes. However, many individuals experience preliminary symptoms such as fatigue, mild chest discomfort, or shortness of breath in the days or weeks leading up to a heart attack. Recognizing these early warning signs can be crucial for timely intervention.

Pulmonary Embolism: When DVT Travels to the Lungs

A pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a blood clot, often originating from a DVT in the leg or arm, breaks off and travels to the lungs. This condition is extremely dangerous and requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms of PE include:

• Sudden shortness of breath
• Chest pain that worsens with deep breathing
• Rapid heartbeat
• Coughing, sometimes with blood-tinged sputum
• Lightheadedness or fainting

How quickly can a pulmonary embolism develop? The onset of PE symptoms can be sudden and severe. In some cases, symptoms may develop over hours or days, but immediate medical attention is crucial regardless of the speed of onset.

Blood Clots in the Brain: Understanding Stroke Risk

Blood clots in the brain can cause a stroke, a medical emergency that can lead to permanent disability or death if not treated promptly. The symptoms of a stroke caused by a blood clot include:

• Sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body
• Confusion or difficulty speaking
• Severe headache
• Vision problems in one or both eyes
• Difficulty walking or loss of balance

Are all strokes caused by blood clots? No, strokes can be either ischemic (caused by a blood clot) or hemorrhagic (caused by bleeding in the brain). However, approximately 87% of strokes are ischemic, making blood clot prevention crucial for stroke risk reduction.

The FAST Method for Stroke Recognition

The FAST method is a simple way to remember the key signs of a stroke:

• Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
• Time: If you observe any of these signs, call emergency services immediately.

Abdominal Blood Clots: A Hidden Danger

Blood clots can also form in the veins that drain blood from the intestines, a condition known as mesenteric venous thrombosis. This type of clot can be caused by various factors, including inflammatory bowel diseases, liver disease, or even the use of oral contraceptives. Symptoms of abdominal blood clots include:

• Severe abdominal pain, often described as colicky or cramping
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bloating
• Diarrhea, which may be bloody
• Fever

Can abdominal blood clots be mistaken for other conditions? Yes, the symptoms of mesenteric venous thrombosis can mimic other gastrointestinal disorders, making diagnosis challenging. Prompt medical evaluation is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Kidney Complications: When Blood Clots Affect Renal Function

Blood clots in the kidneys, known as renal vein thrombosis, can impair kidney function and lead to serious complications. This condition may be caused by various factors, including dehydration, trauma, or underlying kidney diseases. Symptoms of kidney-related blood clots include:

• Flank pain (pain in the side of the abdomen)
• Blood in the urine
• Decreased urine output
• Swelling in the legs
• High blood pressure

How does renal vein thrombosis affect kidney function? Blood clots in the renal veins can impede blood flow from the kidneys, leading to increased pressure within the kidneys. This can result in kidney damage, impaired filtration, and potentially kidney failure if left untreated.

Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies for DVT

Understanding the risk factors for DVT is crucial for prevention. Some common risk factors include:

• Prolonged immobility (e.g., long flights, bed rest)
• Recent surgery or injury
• Obesity
• Pregnancy and postpartum period
• Use of hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy
• Cancer and certain cancer treatments
• Family history of blood clotting disorders
• Advanced age

What steps can be taken to prevent DVT? Prevention strategies include:

1. Regular physical activity and exercise
2. Maintaining a healthy weight
3. Staying hydrated, especially during long trips
4. Wearing compression stockings when recommended by a healthcare provider
5. Taking prescribed anticoagulant medications as directed
6. Avoiding prolonged periods of immobility
7. Quitting smoking

Are there specific exercises that can help prevent DVT during long flights? Yes, simple exercises like ankle rotations, calf raises, and walking up and down the aisle can help promote blood circulation and reduce the risk of DVT during air travel.

The Role of Anticoagulant Medications

For individuals at high risk of DVT, healthcare providers may prescribe anticoagulant medications, also known as blood thinners. These medications work by interfering with the blood clotting process, reducing the likelihood of clot formation. Common anticoagulants include:

• Heparin
• Warfarin
• Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran

How long do patients typically need to take anticoagulants for DVT prevention or treatment? The duration of anticoagulant therapy varies depending on individual risk factors and the specific circumstances. Some patients may require short-term treatment for a few months, while others with recurrent DVT or certain risk factors may need long-term or even lifelong anticoagulation.

Diagnostic Approaches for Suspected DVT

When DVT is suspected, healthcare providers employ various diagnostic tools to confirm the presence of a blood clot. Common diagnostic approaches include:

• D-dimer blood test: Measures a substance released when blood clots break down
• Duplex ultrasound: Uses sound waves to visualize blood flow in the veins
• Venography: An X-ray procedure that uses contrast dye to visualize the veins
• CT scan or MRI: Advanced imaging techniques that can detect clots in various parts of the body

Is a negative D-dimer test sufficient to rule out DVT? While a negative D-dimer test can help exclude DVT in low-risk patients, it is not always definitive. In cases where clinical suspicion remains high, additional imaging studies may be necessary for a conclusive diagnosis.

The Wells Score: A Clinical Prediction Tool

The Wells score is a clinical prediction rule used to estimate the probability of DVT based on a patient’s symptoms and risk factors. It includes criteria such as:

• Active cancer
• Paralysis or recent plaster immobilization of the lower extremities
• Recently bedridden for more than 3 days or major surgery within 4 weeks
• Localized tenderness along the distribution of the deep venous system
• Entire leg swollen
• Calf swelling more than 3 cm compared to the asymptomatic leg
• Pitting edema
• Collateral superficial veins
• Alternative diagnosis as likely or more likely than DVT

How is the Wells score used in clinical practice? Healthcare providers use the Wells score to categorize patients into low, moderate, or high risk for DVT. This assessment helps guide further diagnostic testing and management decisions.

Treatment Options for DVT and Its Complications

The primary goals of DVT treatment are to prevent the clot from growing, reduce the risk of embolization, and alleviate symptoms. Treatment options may include:

1. Anticoagulant medications: To prevent further clot formation and allow the body to dissolve existing clots
2. Thrombolytic therapy: For severe cases, medications to dissolve blood clots may be administered
3. Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter: A device implanted in the large vein in the abdomen to prevent clots from traveling to the lungs
4. Compression stockings: To reduce swelling and prevent blood from pooling in the legs
5. Surgical interventions: In rare cases, surgery may be necessary to remove large clots

What factors determine the choice of treatment for DVT? The selection of treatment depends on various factors, including the location and extent of the clot, the patient’s overall health status, and the presence of any contraindications to specific therapies.

Long-Term Management and Follow-Up

After initial treatment, long-term management of DVT typically involves:

• Continued anticoagulation therapy for a specified duration
• Regular follow-up appointments to monitor treatment effectiveness
• Lifestyle modifications to reduce risk factors
• Management of any underlying conditions that may contribute to clot formation

How often should patients with a history of DVT be monitored? The frequency of follow-up appointments varies based on individual circumstances. Initially, patients may need more frequent monitoring, which can be gradually reduced as their condition stabilizes. However, any recurrence of symptoms should prompt immediate medical evaluation.

Emerging Research and Future Directions in DVT Management

The field of DVT prevention, diagnosis, and treatment continues to evolve. Some areas of ongoing research and development include:

• Novel anticoagulant medications with improved safety profiles
• Advanced imaging techniques for more accurate and non-invasive diagnosis
• Personalized risk assessment tools incorporating genetic factors
• Innovative mechanical devices for clot removal or prevention
• Exploration of the role of inflammation in DVT development

What potential breakthroughs in DVT management are on the horizon? Researchers are exploring targeted therapies that can dissolve clots without increasing the risk of bleeding, as well as developing more sophisticated risk prediction models that can guide individualized prevention strategies.

The Promise of Artificial Intelligence in DVT Care

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms are being developed to:

• Analyze imaging studies for more accurate DVT detection
• Predict individual patient risk based on complex data patterns
• Optimize anticoagulation management
• Enhance early warning systems for hospitalized patients at risk of DVT

How might AI change the landscape of DVT management in the coming years? AI has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy, enable more personalized treatment approaches, and enhance the efficiency of DVT prevention strategies in healthcare settings.

Symptoms in Legs, Lungs, and More

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Arms, Legs
• Heart
• Lungs
• Brain
• Belly
• Kidneys
• More

Ever get a paper cut or nick yourself while shaving? When that happens, a blood clot saves the day. It quickly stops the bleeding, and when it’s done its job, it usually breaks up. Sometimes, though, things can go wrong.

When blood clots don’t fall apart, they can be dangerous and lead to serious medical conditions. You can get them in blood vessels in just about any part of your body. They’re most likely to affect a leg, especially if you sit for long periods of time.

You might get a clot in your arteries, which carry oxygen in your blood from your heart to all the cells of your body. The result can be really serious. It can keep oxygen from getting to your heart, lungs, or brain, and cause a life-threatening emergency, like a heart attack or stroke.

You could also get a clot in the veins that carry blood back to your heart. When that happens, symptoms usually come on more gradually, but can still mean trouble.

If you learn the warning signs, you’re more likely to get quick medical help that can make a huge difference in keeping you out of the danger zone. But it’s important to know that in some cases, clots can happen with few symptoms or none at all..

See More: Dos and Don’ts of a Blood Clot

When a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins in your arm or leg, way beneath your skin’s surface, it could be something called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). That’s dangerous because the clot could travel to your heart or lungs.

You’re more likely to get a DVT if you haven’t moved around for a long time, say after surgery or during a long plane trip. Get medical help right away if you notice any of these symptoms:

• Swelling. This can happen in the exact spot where the blood clot forms, or your entire leg or arm could puff up.
• Change in color. You might notice that your arm or leg takes on a red or blue tinge, or gets itchy.
• Pain. As the clot gets worse, you may hurt or get sore. The feeling can range from a dull ache to intense pain. You may notice the pain throbs in your leg, belly, or even your arm.
• Warm skin. The skin around painful areas or in the arm or leg with the DVT may feel warmer than other skin.
• Trouble breathing. If this happens, it could mean that the clot has moved from your arm or leg to your lungs. You may also get a bad cough, and might even cough up blood. You may get pain in your chest or feel dizzy. Call 911 to get medical help right away.
• Lower leg cramp. If the clot is in your calf or lower leg, you may feel like you have a cramp or charley horse.
• Pitting edema. DVT can cause fluid buildup (edema) in the arms or legs. It typically happens quite quickly with DVT. When you press on the swollen area, it can cause a dimple or “pit” (pitting) that remains for a few seconds.
• Swollen, painful veins. The pain may increase with touch.

A blood clot that forms in or around your ticker may cause a heart attack. Watch out for symptoms like these:

• Severe pain in your chest and arm
• Sweating
• Trouble breathing

A blood clot in your lung usually starts out in a deep vein in your arm or leg, then breaks off and travels to your lung. When this happens, you get what’s called a pulmonary embolism, an extremely dangerous condition.

Get medical help right away if you:

• Feel short of breath or have problems breathing
• Get pain in your chest
• Start to cough
• Begin to sweat
• Feel dizzy

Blood clots here may be caused by fatty deposits in the walls of the blood vessels that bring blood to your brain. Or sometimes, they may form because of a blow to your head that leads to a concussion.

In other cases, a clot that starts out in a different part of your body, like your chest or neck, might enter your bloodstream and travel to your brain, where it can cause a stroke.

Watch out for these symptoms:

• Problems with your vision or speech
• A seizure
• General feeling of weakness

Blood clots can happen in the veins that drain blood from your intestines. They can be caused by conditions like diverticulitis or liver disease, or even by birth control pills.

How will you know if this is going on? Check with your doctor if you have problems like these:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe pain in your belly, which may be worse after you eat
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stools
• A bloated feeling

A blood clot in your kidneys can keep them from removing waste from your body. That can cause high blood pressure or even kidney failure.

This is dangerous, so look out for these symptoms:

• Pain in the side of your belly, legs, or thighs
• Blood in your urine
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• High blood pressure
• Sudden severe leg swelling
• Trouble breathing

Top Picks

Symptoms in Legs, Lungs, and More

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Arms, Legs
• Heart
• Lungs
• Brain
• Belly
• Kidneys
• More

Ever get a paper cut or nick yourself while shaving? When that happens, a blood clot saves the day. It quickly stops the bleeding, and when it’s done its job, it usually breaks up. Sometimes, though, things can go wrong.

When blood clots don’t fall apart, they can be dangerous and lead to serious medical conditions. You can get them in blood vessels in just about any part of your body. They’re most likely to affect a leg, especially if you sit for long periods of time.

You might get a clot in your arteries, which carry oxygen in your blood from your heart to all the cells of your body. The result can be really serious. It can keep oxygen from getting to your heart, lungs, or brain, and cause a life-threatening emergency, like a heart attack or stroke.

You could also get a clot in the veins that carry blood back to your heart. When that happens, symptoms usually come on more gradually, but can still mean trouble.

If you learn the warning signs, you’re more likely to get quick medical help that can make a huge difference in keeping you out of the danger zone. But it’s important to know that in some cases, clots can happen with few symptoms or none at all. .

See More: Dos and Don’ts of a Blood Clot

When a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins in your arm or leg, way beneath your skin’s surface, it could be something called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). That’s dangerous because the clot could travel to your heart or lungs.

You’re more likely to get a DVT if you haven’t moved around for a long time, say after surgery or during a long plane trip. Get medical help right away if you notice any of these symptoms:

• Swelling. This can happen in the exact spot where the blood clot forms, or your entire leg or arm could puff up.
• Change in color. You might notice that your arm or leg takes on a red or blue tinge, or gets itchy.
• Pain. As the clot gets worse, you may hurt or get sore. The feeling can range from a dull ache to intense pain. You may notice the pain throbs in your leg, belly, or even your arm.
• Warm skin. The skin around painful areas or in the arm or leg with the DVT may feel warmer than other skin.
• Trouble breathing. If this happens, it could mean that the clot has moved from your arm or leg to your lungs. You may also get a bad cough, and might even cough up blood. You may get pain in your chest or feel dizzy. Call 911 to get medical help right away.
• Lower leg cramp. If the clot is in your calf or lower leg, you may feel like you have a cramp or charley horse.
• Pitting edema. DVT can cause fluid buildup (edema) in the arms or legs. It typically happens quite quickly with DVT. When you press on the swollen area, it can cause a dimple or “pit” (pitting) that remains for a few seconds.
• Swollen, painful veins. The pain may increase with touch.

A blood clot that forms in or around your ticker may cause a heart attack. Watch out for symptoms like these:

• Severe pain in your chest and arm
• Sweating
• Trouble breathing

A blood clot in your lung usually starts out in a deep vein in your arm or leg, then breaks off and travels to your lung. When this happens, you get what’s called a pulmonary embolism, an extremely dangerous condition.

Get medical help right away if you:

• Feel short of breath or have problems breathing
• Get pain in your chest
• Start to cough
• Begin to sweat
• Feel dizzy

Blood clots here may be caused by fatty deposits in the walls of the blood vessels that bring blood to your brain. Or sometimes, they may form because of a blow to your head that leads to a concussion.

In other cases, a clot that starts out in a different part of your body, like your chest or neck, might enter your bloodstream and travel to your brain, where it can cause a stroke.

Watch out for these symptoms:

• Problems with your vision or speech
• A seizure
• General feeling of weakness

Blood clots can happen in the veins that drain blood from your intestines. They can be caused by conditions like diverticulitis or liver disease, or even by birth control pills.

How will you know if this is going on? Check with your doctor if you have problems like these:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe pain in your belly, which may be worse after you eat
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stools
• A bloated feeling

A blood clot in your kidneys can keep them from removing waste from your body. That can cause high blood pressure or even kidney failure.

This is dangerous, so look out for these symptoms:

• Pain in the side of your belly, legs, or thighs
• Blood in your urine
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• High blood pressure
• Sudden severe leg swelling
• Trouble breathing

Top Picks

Deep vein thrombosis: causes, symptoms

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs due to blood clotting in the deep veins of the extremities, most commonly the large veins of the legs.
Sometimes these clots are released and travel through the veins through the heart to settle in the arteries of the lungs. This related condition is known as a pulmonary embolism (PE) and can cause severe chest pain or shortness of breath. PE can be life-threatening if the embolus (circulating clot) is large.

Causes

DVT can occur when blood pools in the deep veins of your legs, when there is some factor that makes a blood clot more likely, or when there is damage to the vein wall. The blood will clot if the flow is interrupted. This may be due to compression of the vessel.
For example, when you are bedridden (after surgery) or when you sit still for long periods (such as during a long plane flight), blood can pool in the large veins in your legs and form clots. Trauma, certain types of serious illnesses, and certain medications also increase the tendency to clot.

Symptoms

About half of people with DVT have no symptoms. These are so-called “silent” DVTs that may resolve on their own or lead to a pulmonary embolism. If symptoms do occur, they usually occur in only one leg and include:

• swelling in the lower leg, ankle, foot, or (rarely) thigh;
• slight inflammation of the affected area;
• touch sensitivity;
• pain in the calf or behind the knee;
• leg cramps at night;
• the affected skin is slightly redder than usual; a bluish tint means a serious blockade;
• pain on weight bearing;
• sharp pain in lower leg when your leg is bent up;
• slightly elevated temperature;

Who is in danger?

Deep vein thrombosis occurs in about two in 1000 people and is most common in adults over 60 years of age. Diseases and circumstances that increase the risk of developing DVT:

• obesity;
• smoking;
• pregnancy;
• use of oral contraceptives;
• cancer;
• injuries or operations on the lower extremities;
• family history of DVT;
• previous thrombosis or embolism;
• recent surgery or trauma;
• fractures of the femur or tibia;
• being bedridden or in a wheelchair;
• stroke;
• heart attack.

Diagnostics

Your doctor will review your medical history and perform a physical examination. However, more tests are needed to confirm a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis because the symptoms are often similar to those of other conditions. Frequent diagnostic tests for DVT:

1. Doppler and vascular duplex scanning is a combination of ultrasound and a flow probe that shows the direction of blood flow in the veins. This combination will show any blockage in the veins.
2. Contrast venography involves injecting a substance into a vein that is visible on an x-ray.

Blood clots are sometimes found on a CT scan. A sample of your blood may also be sent to a laboratory to check for conditions that cause increased blood clotting.

Treatment

Treatment usually requires hospitalization and bed rest, at least initially. However, prolonged sitting in one position should be avoided. First, a combination of anticoagulant drugs is used to “thin” the blood to prevent further clotting. Regular blood tests tell your doctor when these drugs are working properly.

Your doctor will prescribe medications and monitor their effects.

Leg compression devices are often used to prevent DVT while you are in the hospital. The leg may be elevated to reduce swelling. A warm and damp bandage may be applied to the affected area to relieve pain.
In rare cases, a clot may require surgical removal.

Prophylaxis

General healthy lifestyle measures (exercise, avoiding cigarettes, and weight control) can help reduce your overall risk of developing DVT. For people who have had DVT or are at risk of developing DVT, the following preventive measures are recommended:

1. Avoid prolonged bed rest or immobility of the legs. Leg exercises help prevent ailment. Walking as soon as possible after surgery will help reduce the risk of DVT. If you are unable to exercise, your health care provider should massage your legs and perform passive exercises on them within their range of motion.
2. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about special support stockings. Make sure the stockings are snug, but not too tight in any one area, as this can block blood flow. Take them off once a day to wash them and check your skin for discoloration or irritation.
3. Keep your legs elevated when lying or sitting to help return blood to the veins in your legs.

Airline:

1. Drink plenty of (non-alcoholic) liquids while flying.
2. Raise your ankles and massage your calves regularly while you are sitting.
3. Wear loose, non-restrictive clothing.
4. Do not take sleeping pills as they will make you move less during the flight.
5. Be vigilant for symptoms of DVT for up to a month after long flights.

Deep vein thrombosis: symptoms and treatment

Modern people often face diseases of the superficial leg veins, in particular varicose veins and its complications. But deep veins are often also at risk. Unfortunately, we know much less about the features of deep vein disease and their treatment than about the same varicose veins. What to pay attention to, how thrombosis differs from thrombophlebitis and what to do when symptoms of diseases appear – we will try to figure it out.

How the venous system of the legs works

Relatively speaking, the veins on the legs form two levels – superficial and deep. Superficial veins provide only about 10% of venous blood flow, but they perform a very important function. In addition to collecting blood and moving it to the heart, these veins can play the role of a kind of reservoir, which, if necessary, can receive blood from deep veins. Thus, the load on the veins is regulated by internal mechanisms.

Veins from the deep and superficial layers are interconnected by the so-called perforating veins. Due to this, balance is maintained in the venous system.

Superficial veins are at risk of excessive stretching: if a person does not move much, does not eat well, suffers from excess weight and simply has a hereditary predisposition, then blood flow slows down and the vein wall stretches. Special valves that block the reverse flow of blood do not close tightly, and we are talking about varicose veins. Deep veins are located in the thickness of tissues and ensure the movement of the main volume of blood to the heart. The surrounding muscles maintain the tone of these vessels and facilitate blood flow, so deep veins are not susceptible to varicose veins.

Thrombophlebitis is a dangerous complication of varicose veins

Slow movement of blood through the superficial veins, as well as damage to the vascular walls (and stretching often leads to them) – these are two factors that play an important role in the formation of thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities. Symptoms of this disease are pain in the leg, redness, thickening along the vein. All this is a consequence of the formation of a thrombus, a blood clot in the lumen of a vessel. Often, a blood clot can completely close the vein. The separation of a blood clot is also dangerous, since in this case it can clog another vessel, for example, the pulmonary artery.

Thrombophlebitis is a disease of the superficial veins, which is most often a complication of varicose veins. If the disease occurs on its own, without prior expansion of the veins, the cause of this is usually disorders in the blood coagulation system. Symptoms of thrombophlebitis without varicose veins always attract the attention of doctors, and this situation requires additional examinations.

Let us emphasize once again that everything described refers to superficial veins. If we are talking about deep vein thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities, symptoms and treatment… Can we talk about this disease?

Thrombophlebitis or thrombosis?

If blood clots form in the deep veins of the lower extremities, then we are not talking about thrombophlebitis, but about thrombosis. What is the difference between these two diseases?

Thrombophlebitis is a disease that occurs mainly as a result of injury to the vein wall. It is accompanied by inflammation, which, together with a slowdown in blood flow, causes the formation of blood clots. Thrombosis of the veins of the lower extremities is a disease caused by a malfunction of the blood coagulation system. It is not associated with varicose veins, nor is it preceded by damage to the veins, although the presence of trauma increases the risk of thrombosis. And it poses no less danger to the body than thrombophlebitis, since there is a possibility of blocking the blood flow or detaching a blood clot.

Factors contributing to the development of thrombosis include:

• advanced age
• weight gain, decreased physical activity
• taking oral contraceptives
• pregnancy (during this period, a woman’s blood clotting properties may change)
• smoking
• surgical operations

Thrombosis of the lower extremities – symptoms

An additional danger of thrombosis is that the disease may not manifest itself for a sufficiently long time. Symptoms appear when the thrombus reaches a large size and spreads up the vessel. Then the patient complains of pain, which decreases at rest and increases with physical activity. Then, due to the deterioration of the outflow of blood, edema joins the pain. The skin on the leg turns pale (to cyanosis) and “stretches”, acquiring a glossy sheen.

To diagnose the localization of a thrombus, ultrasound of the veins is performed, and in especially difficult cases, angiography, X-ray examination with the introduction of a contrast agent into the vessels.

What to do?

The appearance of symptoms of deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities suggests that the patient should immediately consult a doctor and begin treatment. The specialist will assess the location and nature of the thrombus and help prevent its separation or complete blockage of the vessel.

Common treatments include blood thinners (heparin) and compression stockings to help maintain proper venous blood flow. For several days, the patient may be recommended bed rest, while the position of the legs should be slightly elevated.