Deep vein thrombosis, commonly referred to as DVT, is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs. If a DVT breaks loose, it can cause a serious problem in the lung, called a pulmonary embolism, or PE. This happens when a blood clot gets stuck in an artery in the lung and blocks the flow of blood to a part of the lung. A clot can also travel to your brain, causing a stroke.

DVT is a medical emergency and needs to be evaluated quickly to help prevent it from breaking off and traveling to a lung.

DVT symptoms to pay attention to:

Pain, swelling and tenderness in your calf or leg, especially if it’s just one leg
Heavy aching and chronic leg fatigue
A patch of warm skin
Red skin below the knee on the back of your leg
Bluish or whitish skin discoloration
Leg pain that worsens when bending the foot
Pain or tenderness in one or both legs, mostly while standing or walking

If you have any of these warning signs, come in to see one of our doctors immediately. If it’s after hours, go to the emergency room.

It is important to listen to what your body is telling you. If your leg feels tight and swollen, you may be feeling the effects of a blood clot. There may be a persistent, throbbing, cramping feeling in your leg indicating the presence of a clot. And, you may notice pain or tenderness while standing or walking.

PE symptoms to pay attention to:

Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Cough

To greatly reduce your chances of dying, it is vital to get treatment right away to break up the clot.

Call our office immediately. If it is after hours, go to the emergency room.

Are you at risk for having DVT?

In addition to knowing the symptoms, knowing the risk factors can help you protect yourself from DVT. DVT occurs when the large, deep veins of the legs are damaged by disease, surgical injuries, or medications. Two risk factors that are beyond your control are age (typically over 60) and family history. Risk factors you can change include being overweight, smoking and inactivity. Working with your doctor to lose weight, stop smoking and create an exercise plan can make a difference in reducing your risk for DVT.