What doctor should you see for blood clots? Discover the role of hemophilia treatment centers, the importance of seeing a specialist, and the inheritance patterns of clotting disorders. Get expert advice on managing anticoagulation and understanding genetic testing.

The Role of Hemophilia Treatment Centers in Managing Clotting Disorders

Hemophilia treatment centers provide comprehensive care for individuals with bleeding and clotting disorders. These centers are staffed by a multidisciplinary team, including hematologists, nurses, nutritionists, genetic counselors, physical therapists, and social workers, who work collaboratively to address the diverse needs of patients with clotting disorders.

Patients with clotting disorders can benefit greatly from the specialized expertise and resources available at hemophilia treatment centers. These centers help patients better understand and manage their medical condition, ensuring they receive the best possible care.

The Importance of Seeing a Hematologist for Clotting Disorders

While many primary care providers can manage patients with blood clots, it is recommended that individuals who have experienced a blood clot also see a hematologist who specializes in bleeding and clotting disorders. Hematologists play a crucial role in accurately identifying and diagnosing clotting abnormalities, which is essential for the health and well-being of patients and their families.

Hematologists have extensive experience in the management of anticoagulation, ensuring that the appropriate choice of anticoagulant and the level and length of anticoagulation are tailored to each patient’s individual circumstances, such as the location and size of the clot, the presence of triggering factors, the patient’s age, and family history.

Inherited vs. Acquired Clotting Disorders

Clotting disorders can be either inherited or acquired. Inherited clotting disorders are associated with genetic abnormalities that increase an individual’s lifelong tendency to form blood clots. One of the most common inherited clotting disorders is Factor V Leiden, which affects approximately 5-10% of white Americans of European descent.

Acquired clotting disorders, on the other hand, may develop at any time without an underlying genetic cause, often due to certain disease states or conditions that can be controlled or reversed. Healthcare providers can often identify the cause of excessive clotting in some patients and families, but not in all cases.

Genetic Testing and Family Screening for Clotting Disorders

If a patient is diagnosed with an inherited clotting disorder, such as Factor V Leiden, it is recommended that their family members also be tested. This allows for appropriate preventive healthcare management and helps individuals make informed decisions about their healthcare, particularly in situations like pregnancy, birth control use, and surgery.

The Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center (IHTC) has a genetic counselor who can explain the testing process and the interpretation of test results to patients and their families, ensuring they understand the implications and can make informed choices about their healthcare.

Dietary Considerations for Patients on Anticoagulant Medications

For patients on anticoagulant medications, particularly warfarin, the IHTC’s registered dietitian can provide valuable information and advice on diet-related issues that may affect the effectiveness of these medications. The IHTC offers a warfarin interactions guide, which provides useful nutritional information and important dietary tips to help patients on a warfarin treatment plan manage their condition effectively.

Comprehensive Care at the Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center

The Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center (IHTC) is home to an expert medical team with extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of clotting disorders. In addition to specialized hematological care, the IHTC also offers genetic counseling services to help patients and their families understand the implications of their condition and make informed healthcare decisions.

Key Takeaways

• Hemophilia treatment centers provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for individuals with clotting disorders.
• Seeing a hematologist who specializes in bleeding and clotting disorders is recommended for patients who have experienced a blood clot.
• Clotting disorders can be either inherited or acquired, and genetic testing can help identify the underlying cause and inform preventive healthcare measures.
• The IHTC offers a range of specialized services, including genetic counseling and dietary guidance for patients on anticoagulant medications, to ensure comprehensive and personalized care for individuals with clotting disorders.

Clotting Disorder FAQs | Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center

Why should people with a clotting disorder go to a hemophilia treatment center?

Hemophilia treatment centers provide comprehensive care for people with bleeding and clotting disorders. Hemophilia treatment centers are staffed by a range of healthcare providers, including hematologists, nurses, nutritionists, genetic counselors, physical therapists, and social workers, who work as a team to address the needs of persons with clotting disorders.

Hemophilia treatment centers providers help persons with clotting disorders better understand and manage their medical condition.

Do people with a clotting disorder need to see a specialist?

Many primary care providers manage patients with blood clots. However, if a patient has or has had a blood clot, it is recommended that they also are seen by a hematologist who specializes in the area of bleeding and clotting disorders.

Hematologists are an essential part of the IHTC care team. A hematologist accurately identifies and diagnoses clotting abnormalities that may contribute to the development of a clot. Accurate diagnosis is essential to the health of patients and families.

Hematologists have extensive experience in the management of anticoagulation. Appropriate choice of an anticoagulant and the level and length of anticoagulation are based on each patient’s diagnosis and individual circumstances, including the location and size of the clot, the presence of factors that can “trigger” a blood clot, patient age, and family history.

If a patient has been diagnosed with factor V Leiden, should family members be tested, even if they have not personally experienced a blood clot?

If a patient has been diagnosed with an inherited clotting disorder such as factor V Leiden, his or her family members might also be affected and should be tested. Testing of family members allows for appropriate preventive healthcare management and for individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare.

This information may be helpful in medical decision making in certain circumstances, such as pregnancy, type of birth control utilized, and surgery. Family members who might be at risk for these conditions may visit a hematologist to have this testing performed.

The IHTC also has a genetic counselor who can explain this testing and the test results to patients and their families.

What can the IHTC do for you?

The IHTC has an expert medical team with years of experience in the diagnosis of clotting disorders and anticoagulation management. The IHTC provides genetic counseling services for individuals with clotting disorders and their families

The IHTC’s registered dietitian provides information and advice on diet-related issues that affect anticoagulant medications, particularly warfarin. Take a look at our warfarin interactions guide for useful nutritional information and important dietary tips for patients on a warfarin treatment plan.

What is a clotting disorder (thrombophilia)?

Thrombophilia describes a group of clotting disorders in which there is an increased tendency for excessive blood clotting. Clotting disorders can be due to inherited genetic abnormalities that are associated with a life-long increased tendency to clot.

Learn more about inherited causes of clotting disorders

Clotting disorders may also be associated with acquired conditions such as lupus anticoagulants or an antiphospholipid antibody, which can occur in persons either with or without systemic lupus erythematosus.

Learn more about acquired causes of clotting disorders

Who can have a clotting disorder?

Clotting disorders affect a large number of men and women throughout the world. People who experience episodes of blood clots, either as a single event or as repeated events, may have a clotting disorder.

Both children and adults can have a clotting disorder. Blood clots are more commonly diagnosed during the teen and adult years due to normal changes in the blood that occur with growth and aging. Women who have a clotting disorder can have clotting problems during pregnancy and delivery and with the use of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy.

Factor V Leiden affects approximately 5-10% of white Americans of European descent. Some people may have an identifiable clotting disorder, such as factor V Leiden, yet do not experience a blood clot.

Are all clotting problems inherited?

Not all clotting disorders are inherited. Clotting disorders can also be acquired, meaning they may develop at any time without an underlying genetic cause. Some acquired clotting disorders are related to disease states that can be controlled or reversed, such as:

Healthcare providers are able to discover the cause of excessive clotting in some patients and families, but not in all cases. Further research is needed to understand why some individuals without an identifiable cause have clotting problems.

What is thrombosis (blood clot formation)?

Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel that blocks the normal flow of blood through the bloodstream. Blood clots may occur in either veins (blood vessels that deliver blood from the tissues to the heart) or arteries (vessels that deliver blood from the heart to the tissues).

A blood clot can reduce or completely shut off blood flow and oxygen to body tissues, resulting in pain, tissue damage and, in some cases, death.

What is an embolism?

An embolism occurs when part of a blood clot breaks off and travels in the bloodstream to another part of the body, where it may block blood flow in the affected vein or artery.

Are there different types of blood clots in veins?

Yes. The most common types of clots in veins are deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot within one of the large deep veins of the body. It usually occurs in the deep veins of the legs or hips, although it can happen in other areas as well.

Learn more about the signs of deep vein thrombosis

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a part of a deep vein clot breaks off and flows in the bloodstream to the lungs. In the lungs, the embolized blood clot can block the blood vessels and reduce or prevent the flow of blood to the lungs. Pulmonary embolism is the most serious complication of thrombosis and can result in death if not treated.

Learn more about the signs of pulmonary embolism

How common are blood clots?

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are very common medical problems and are a significant cause of illness and death in the United States.

According to the CDC, an estimated 600,000–1,000,000 people in the United States die from a deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism each year. Of the people who have experienced a deep vein thrombosis, nearly one third develop post-thrombotic syndrome, a long-term condition that can cause disabilities.

Deep vein thrombosis is preventable and treatable if diagnosed correctly and early.

People with post-thrombotic syndrome may have swelling, pain, discoloration, and scaling of the affected limb. For some people, deep vein thrombosis may become a chronic illness. Approximately 30% of individuals who experience a deep vein thrombosis are at risk for having another episode.

What causes blood clots?

Blood clots are the result of three principal factors:

• Pooling of blood in the deep veins

• Damage to blood vessels

• Increase in the activity of the components in the blood that are part of the normal clotting process (this increased activity leads to a super-clotting state)

Several factors can help cause the conditions listed above, thereby increasing the risk of a blood clot:

• Inherited abnormalities that cause an increased tendency to clot

• Surgical procedure

• Sitting or lying down for long periods (more than 4 hours) – for example, after surgery or on long plane or car rides (this lack of movement reduces blood flow in the legs by 50%)

• Major injury

• Increasing age

• Cancer

• Heart failure

• Pregnancy

• Use of hormone therapy such as birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy

• Having a history of deep vein thrombosis

Other risk factors for blood clots may include:

• Diabetes, which leads to damage of the blood vessels

• Obesity, where excess weight places pressure on veins and causes them to weaken

• Pregnancy and childbirth, where physical strain places pressure on deep veins, causing them to weaken

• Tobacco smoking, which is associated with damage to blood vessels and doubles the risk of blood clots

Can blood clots be prevented?

Some blood clots can be prevented through physical activity, a healthy lifestyle, and quality medical care. Some important tips for preventing blood clots include the following:

• Take breaks and stretch your legs when traveling long distances

• Perform heel-toe exercises when seated during prolonged travel and get up and walk as frequently as possible

• Drink fluids, preferably water, especially during prolonged travel

• Know the symptoms of blood clots and seek early medical attention if they occur

• Know the risk factors for blood clots and make lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking, weight control, control of cholesterol and blood pressure

• Be aware of a family history of blood clots

In case of major surgery, injury, prolonged immobility, or when in a cast, ask your healthcare provider whether you should receive treatment to prevent blood clots and, if so, for how long. In some cases, people at high risk for blood clots or with a history of excessive clotting may be prescribed long-term anti-clotting medicines to prevent a blood clot.

If you have more questions about thrombosis symptoms, call the IHTC.

Newly Diagnosed with a Blood Clot? What You Need to Know

“You have a blood clot.”

Hearing these words from your healthcare provider can be shocking—and scary. Blood clots can break loose and go straight to your lungs, causing sudden death, right? Can’t they cause strokes or heart attacks?

Yes, but not always. In most cases, clots can be treated successfully without long-term problems. So before panic sets in, let’s learn about blood clots from UNC Health hematologist Stephan Moll, MD. A hematologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing, treating and preventing blood diseases.

“Blood clots are manageable in most people,” Dr. Moll says. “I would like everyone to be able to recognize the symptoms of a blood clot and the risk factors for a clot.”

After diagnosis, first find out whether your clot is in an artery (vessels that carry blood away from the heart) or a vein (vessels that carry blood back to the heart from legs, arms, abdominal organs and brain). Clots in arteries may lead to stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA or mini stroke), heart attack and other conditions.

Clots in veins may lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

These conditions and their treatments are different, so we’ll focus on clots in veins, a fairly common medical condition. As many as 900,000 people in the United States develop DVT and PE each year.

Most commonly, DVT occurs in a leg, but it can occur anywhere in the body, including arms, abdomen and around the brain. A pulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening complication of DVT, and occurs when a blood clot breaks off, travels through the bloodstream and lodges in the lung.

Diagnosis of DVT or PE is a lot to deal with for a patient, not just physically, but also emotionally.

“Shock, anxiety and even fear are normal reactions to being diagnosed with a blood clot,” Dr. Moll says. “You may feel anxious or even depressed during the first few weeks of treatment. Fear of developing another clot might cause ongoing anxiety, as may fear of abnormal bleeding while on a blood thinner. Talk to your doctor if these feelings are overwhelming you.”

What causes a blood clot?

Anyone can develop a blood clot, including apparently healthy individuals. Clots are not uncommon in athletes in their prime, women who are pregnant or have recently given birth, and people with obesity.

Clots form when the flow of blood in a vein slows, a vein is damaged or blood clots more easily. Common risk factors for developing a clot include:

• Immobility (for example, hospitalization; paralysis; prolonged sitting, including long-distance travel)
• Surgery and trauma (major surgery; bone fracture or cast; catheter in a big vein)
• Increased estrogens (birth control pills, patches or rings; pregnancy, including up to six weeks after birth; estrogen hormone therapy)
• Medical conditions (cancer and chemotherapy; heart failure; inflammatory disorder; a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome)

Other risk factors include having had a previous blood clot, a clotting disorder, varicose veins or a family history of clots. Getting older and smoking cigarettes increase risk, too.

What are the symptoms of a blood clot?

“Symptoms can range from barely noticeable to severe,” Dr. Moll says.

Classic symptoms of DVT often involve the foot, ankle, calf, the entire leg or an arm. You may experience pain, swelling, discoloration (your skin may look bluish, purplish or reddish) and warmth. Because symptoms can be subtle, they may be confused with those of a sprained ankle, cramp or pulled muscle, which can delay a correct diagnosis.

A PE may cause shortness of breath, chest pain, unexplained cough (you may even cough up blood) and unexplained rapid heart rate. PE symptoms may be misinterpreted as new onset of asthma, a respiratory infection such as a mild pneumonia or inflammation in the breastbone or ribs.

How are blood clots diagnosed?

Typically, your provider will ask about your current symptoms, family medical history and risk factors for clots. They will examine your extremities (arms and legs) for swelling and look for tenderness and skin discoloration. If your provider suspects a clot, they may do certain blood tests or imaging tests.

How are blood clots treated?

Treatments are similar for both DVT and PE, Dr. Moll says.

“We want to prevent an existing clot from getting larger,” he says. “Also, we want to keep new clots from forming and, especially, prevent a DVT from breaking off and becoming a PE.”

Treatments include blood-thinning medications, or anticoagulants, given either as a tablet taken by mouth or an injection. Many patients do not need to be admitted to the hospital but can be treated as outpatients; however, patients with more severe symptoms typically get admitted, Dr. Moll says.

Occasionally, with more severe clots, IV clot buster drugs are used to break up the clot and removal of the clot with a catheter, called a thrombectomy, will be considered.

Blood thinners are very effective in preventing clots from getting bigger or breaking off. Patients on blood thinners will have an outpatient follow-up appointment to make sure the medicine is helping, any bleeding issues (such as increased menstrual bleeding in women) are recognized early enough, and the patient is improving appropriately.

A key point to discuss with your provider is how long you need to be on a blood thinner, Dr. Moll says. This depends on what triggered the blood clot and what your risk of another clot would be if you came off blood thinners.  Some people are on blood thinners for as little as three months; for others, they are needed for years.

When will I recover?

Clots can be painful, and shortness of breath is frightening. People want to know when they will recover.

“Most patients with DVT or PE recover within a few days or weeks without significant complications or lasting effects,” Dr. Moll says.

The risk of a clot breaking off and forming a PE is present mostly during the first few days while the clot is fresh and fragile. In general, patients improve significantly over the first seven to 10 days after starting blood thinners. Additional, although slower, improvement often continues for the next several weeks.

When can I get back to my normal activities?

“I tell patients to use common sense and listen to their body,” Dr. Moll says. “It’s fine for a patient to be physically active right after the DVT or PE diagnosis, walking or doing light housework. But I also remind them that if they have a lot of leg pain or swelling, or shortness of breath from a PE, they should take it easy. A blood clot puts a lot of stress on a person’s body and mind—it takes time to heal and recover.”

Where can I get more information about blood clots?

UNC’s Hematology group provides Clot Connect, a web-based clearinghouse of information about blood clots. Among the resources is a helpful guide for newly diagnosed DVT and PE patients. The site also provides information about recovery and support groups. UNC Health has recently opened a DVT Walk-In Clinic as part of the UNC Benign Hematology Clinic in Chapel Hill. The clinic treats patients experiencing symptoms of a clot and then follows up with them to make sure they receive the appropriate treatment.

If you are experiencing symptoms of a blood clot, talk to your doctor. If you need a doctor, find one near you.

articles from the Oxford Medical Center Zaporozhye

Feeling unwell, caused by heaviness and pain in the legs, prevents people from leading their usual active lifestyle. Attempts to change the situation on their own often do not lead to an improvement in the state of the body, and then the patient thinks about which doctor treats veins and blood vessels. Timely contacting a specialist for advice and timely treatment help to avoid serious consequences caused by vascular diseases.

Where to go if you have problems with blood vessels

Diseases of the veins can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms:

• vascular “asterisks”;

• intolerable itching and burning;

• feeling of heaviness in the legs;

• convulsive manifestations;

• leg swelling.

If at least one of the manifestations of the disease is detected, the doctor’s help is needed. Doctor who treats blood vessels and veins – vascular surgeon (angiosurgeon). He deals with the treatment of both veins and arteries that form the circulatory system of the body. A generalist performs diagnostics and excludes various pathologies of blood vessels, arteries, veins and the lymphatic system. The disease is diagnosed by applying modern medical technologies and collecting the patient’s history. In our center you can get advice from a qualified specialist and undergo the necessary diagnostics.

Which doctor should I go to if I have pain in my legs?

If the primary symptoms get worse, often disturb, small nodules or bumps appear on the legs, it is necessary to clearly understand which doctor treats veins. Solving such problems is the responsibility of a phlebologist – a narrow specialist in the treatment of veins. The late stages of varicose veins are often characterized by the possibility of a number of complications – the formation of trophic ulcers, as well as blood clots that impair blood circulation (blood clots). If such a blood clot enters the brain or approaches the heart with the flow of blood, then, in most cases, the death of the patient occurs. That is why it is so important to start timely treatment.

Among the diseases of the veins, such ailments stand out as:

All the diseases listed above are distinguished by the complexity of diagnosing and the severity of the course, which is why treatment should begin literally from the first days of detection of their symptoms. The phlebologist tells patients about taking preventive measures that help prevent the development of complications. If necessary, the doctor can refer the patient to an angiosurgeon. An accurate diagnosis of the disease is established after a thorough examination of the patient using ultrasound of the extremities.

If you have problems with your veins, you should contact a medical institution and consult which doctor treats leg vessels . A phlebologist, an angiosurgeon and other specialists work at the Oxford Medical Zaporozhye Medical Center. The medical center has the necessary modern equipment for early diagnosis of diseases of the veins, arteries and the entire circulatory system. Make an appointment with specialists, follow their recommendations and be healthy!

Published: 05/21/2021

Updated: 05/21/2021

( Rating: 4.67, votes: 3 )

Which doctor should I contact with varicose veins.

Dear patients!

All doctors of our clinic have a unanimous opinion – recently, when patients contact us, cases of lower extremity vein thrombosis have become more frequent.

When taking an anamnesis in 100% of cases, it turns out that all these patients had COVID-19.
This pathology is extremely dangerous with formidable complications.

In the initial stages of thrombus formation, the patient usually does not present any complaints. Thrombosis symptoms appear when blood circulation is already completely disrupted. In this case, most often, inpatient treatment is required.

If thrombosis of the veins of the lower extremities is diagnosed in time and complex treatment is started, then later this thrombus resolves and recovery occurs. In this way, serious consequences can be avoided.

Therefore, I recommend that patients who have had a mild, moderate or severe coronavirus infection undergo prophylactic, preventive ultrasound examination of the veins of the lower extremities for the presence of blood clots in them.

This simple research method will help you avoid serious health problems!

Articles

Despite the prevalence of varicose veins in the legs, many do not know which doctor should be consulted in this case.

Varicose veins in the legs are a disease that affects about 70% of people on the planet. Paradoxically, despite the prevalence of this disease, many of its carriers do not know which doctor to contact for treatment and have never heard the name of the medical specialty “phlebologist”.

Phlebologist is a medical specialist whose competence includes the treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities and other vascular diseases (thrombophlebitis, thrombosis, trophic ulcers, gangrene, etc.).

When should I contact a phlebologist?

Varicose veins in the legs are manifested by the following symptoms:

• heaviness in the legs;
• great fatigue after walking or standing for a long time;
• nocturnal leg cramps;
• pain and burning;
• the appearance of spider veins or clearly protruding veins and vessels of red or blue color.

If you observe one or more of the above symptoms, we recommend that you do not delay your visit to a phlebologist.

Is it possible to treat varicose veins at home?

It is impossible to cure varicose veins at home or by any “folk methods”.