Deep vein thrombosis: symptoms, treatment and care

In our body, blood flows through the veins and arteries and, obviously, it does so in a liquid state. However, there are times when it needs to clot , for example when we hurt ourselves . In this case, coagulant and procoagulant elements act that are dissolved in the blood and what is known as hemostasis occurs , a process by which the blood remains fluid in the blood vessels but forms clots in the area to stop bleeding.

However, these elements may not work properly for various reasons and that is when thrombi appear and venous thrombosis forms , which can be superficial if it affects the superficial veins (just under the skin) or deep when the affected veins become they are found much deeper in the dermis, attached to the muscles and right next to the main arteries. In these there are valves that push the blood upwards and in this way it does not fall due to the effect of gravity, thus helping circulation.

Some of the causes that may favor venous thrombosis deep are:

• Stagnation of blood : for example in the case of varicose veins .
• Sedentary : spending too much time in the same position or without moving and walking causes blood to stagnate.
• Trauma : the breakage of a bone or ligament.
• Cancer : some types of cancer increase procoagulant substances in the blood.
• Infection : bacteria are also capable of activating procoagulant substances.
• Dehydration : when we lack water, the blood becomes thicker than normal.
• Congenital hypercoagulability : there are people whose blood is easier to clot due to hereditary inheritance.
• Tobacco : Toxic substances that are inhaled when smoking pass into the blood and can activate clotting.
• Medications : Some drugs can cause blood clotting.
• Heart failure .
• Pregnancy : during pregnancy the woman suffers from natural hypercoagulability. This is because you are preparing to stop the bleeding during labor.
• Obesity : supposes an endocrine alteration that activates procoagulants of the blood.

Deep vein thrombosis most often occurs in the legs. Physically it can go unnoticed , unlike superficial vein thrombosis that does show visible signs.

However, deep vein thrombosis, although not visible, is felt and the person suffering from it suffers from pain in the area . They can be more or less intense depending on the person and it is not usually constant, so it could be easy to confuse.

Although it is not seen with the naked eye, it can be seen that the leg will be reddish and very hardened . When the stagnation of the blood is very great, the leg can turn bluish because there is a lot of venous blood or, on the contrary, pale since the arterial blood arrives with difficulty.

Deep vein thrombosis is treated with blood thinning medications and hospitalization. In the hospital and immediately upon admission, intravenous heparin is used . This treatment needs constant analytical controls that will be monitored in the hospital. During this time the patient has to remain in bed rest and possibly with the leg elevated.

Currently, new low molecular weight heparins have emerged that do not require hospitalization since they can be injected by the same person and do not require constant analytical controls when injected into the subcutaneous tissue.

Since deep vein thrombosis can cause more serious problems such as a pulmonary embolism, doctors will prevent it from forming, or its progression if it has already formed.

Once out of the hospital, the person with deep vein thrombosis will require oral anticoagulants for a period of time or for life, depending on the situation. These do not work immediately and are therefore not used at the beginning of treatment.

Anticoagulant medications require a lot of precision in the taking so you must strictly follow the doctor’s instructions . They usually have a schedule and a few shots each day and at certain times, it is important to follow them.

However, you should know what to do if you have forgotten a dose, so it is important to ask your doctor all these questions before leaving and in this way you will know how to act in case it occurs. If you think the doses are going to be forgotten, you can set an alarm or download an application that reminds you of taking medication if you live alone or there is no one who can help you.

In patients who take anticoagulants, blood flow control is very important, so you will surely need to go periodically for blood counts to check that everything is working well or change the dose if necessary.

You should inform yourself about the exercises that you can or cannot do, however, there are some tips in certain situations that you should follow:

• It is likely that on many occasions specialized low-salt diets are required or that your doctor instructs you to drink plenty of fluids . However, this will depend on the doctor’s instructions.
• It is not always recommended to wear regulated compression stockings since it does help prevent DVT but it is not entirely indicated after having suffered from venous thrombosis. Always follow the doctor’s instructions regarding whether to use it or not and if so, always follow their instructions and avoid them from tightening you too much.

Deep vein thrombosis can be prevented with a healthy and not very sedentary life . Avoiding bad habits such as tobacco helps prevent these types of conditions. In addition, constant movement is advisable and avoid sedentary lifestyle. If you don’t like exercise, even moderate, you can go for a walk for half an hour each day. The weight and diet are also important so maintaining a healthy weight will help prevent DVT.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Deep vein thrombosis: symptoms, treatment and care , we recommend that you enter our Blood, heart and circulation category .