What is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)? Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors and Diagnosis Methods

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is blood clotting that builds with deep veins, often in the leg or pelvis. However, if the thrombus, or clot, pulls off, consultants call this an embolus. Emboli can build their way to the lung, causing a PE.

According to a 2017 review, deep vein thrombosis is the most familiar cause of maternal death in the developed world. Deep vein thrombosis is severely rare in children. According to a 2016 article, the severe recent figures recommend that 0.30 in every 100,000 children under 9 years of age. And 0.64 in every 100,000 children aged in the middle of 10 and 19 years build deep vein thrombosis.

Symptoms

Some people may build deep vein thrombosis without observing symptoms. However, if symptoms build, they may resemble the following:-

  • Pain in the caused limb that starts in the calf
  • Swelling in the caused limb
  • A warm experience in the swollen, painful region of the leg
  • Red or discolored skin

In severe people, deep vein thrombosis only builds in one leg. However, on rare occasions, both legs may have deep vein thrombosis. However, if a clot shift and travels to the lung, the following symptoms may notice pulmonary embolism (PE):-

  • Slow breathing or sudden breathlessness
  • Chest pain
  • Rapid breaths
  • A faster heart rate

Causes and risk factors

An individual may build deep vein thrombosis when there is no clear cause. However, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes (NHLBI), severe people with deep vein thrombosis build the situation due to one or many more risk factors and underlying situations.

Inactivity

However, if the human body is inactive for a long time period, blood can increase in the lower limbs and pelvic area. This situation is not a problem for severe people. As soon as physical activity steps return to normal, blood pass speeds up. The vein and arteries leveling blood around the body.

However, prolong inactivity means that blood in the legs may deliberate a person’s blood pass raising the risk of clots forming. A person might be inactive for a permanent time due to a range of causes, including:-

  • Being immobile at home
  • Remaining seated during a long journey, like a flight
  • A disability that restricts motion

Injury or surgery

An injury or surgery that harms veins can slow the deliberate of blood. However, this may raise the risk of blood clots. General anesthetics can also broaden the vein building it severe likely that blood pools and clots may form.

Genetics

A person may have an inherited issue that builds blood clots more likely, like Factor V Leiden thrombophilia. However, even though having this situation raises the risk, only around 10 percent of people with it go on to build unfamiliar blood clots, according to Genetics Home Reference.

Pregnancy

As a fetus builds inside the uterus, force against a woman’s veins in the legs and pelvis raises. A woman has a raised risk of deep vein thrombosis throughout pregnancy until six weeks after supplying their baby. Females with some inherited blood issues, like hereditary antithrombin issues, have s greater risk of deep vein thrombosis during pregnancy compared with other women.

Cancer

Some cancers have links to a greater risk of deep vein thrombosis, such as late-stage colon, pancreatic, and breast cancers. Cancer therapies and procedures can also raise a person’s risk of deep vein thrombosis, like chemotherapy, a central venous catheter, and certain cancer surgeries.

Irritable bowel disease

People with irritable bowel disease (IBD) have a greater risk of deep vein thrombosis. A survey found that the risk maybe 3 to 4 times greater than that of a person without IBD.

Heart problems

Any situations that affect how well to heart flows blood around the body can cause issues with clots and bleeds. Some situations like heart attacks or congestive heart failure may raise a person’s risk of building a blood clot.

Diagnosis

However, if a person suspects that they have deep vein thrombosis, they should look for immediate medical support. The consultant will ask queries about symptoms and medical history before conveying out a physical test. A consultant normally not be able to diagnose deep vein thrombosis through signs alone and may suggest tests, including:-

  • D-dimer test: However, this test is a protein fragment that is attending in blood after a blood clot fibrinolysis degrades a blood clot. A test result revealing severe than a certain amount of D-dimer shows a possible blood clot.
  • Ultrasound: However, this kind of scan can recognize clots in veins, alterations in blood flow, and whether the clot is acute or chronic.
  • Venogram: A consultant may request this scan if the ultrasound and D-dimer exams do not supply enough information. The consultant injects a dye into a vein in the foot, knee, or groin. X-ray images can track the dye as it passes to disclose the location of a blood clot.
  • Other imaging scans: MRI and CT scans may highlight the attendance of a clot. However, this scan may identify blood clots while examing for other health situations.

Last Updated on October 9, 2023 by anup