Vein Conditions
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Causes & Treatments
What Causes Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Veins serve as the return routes in the circulatory system, tasked with transporting blood back to the heart from various organs and limbs.
Several factors can increase the risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Book Your Appointment
Most Common Causes
- Smoking
- 50+ years of age
- Obesity
- History of DVT
- Family history of DVT
- Thrombophilia (a condition that increases the likelihood of clotting)
- Varicose veins (chronic venous insufficiency)
- Phlebitis (clots in surface veins)
- Undergoing surgical procedures, particularly orthopaedic
- Severe illness
- Pregnancy, which raises the risk, with pregnant women having a 1-2 in 1000 chance of developing a DVT
- Prolonged immobility due to injury, illness, or travel
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or use of oral contraceptive pills (birth control)
- Cancer, which carries a higher risk
Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis
What are the signs of deep vein thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) typically occurs in the veins of the legs or arms. Remarkably, up to 30% of individuals with DVT exhibit no symptoms, and even when symptoms are present, they can be so subtle that they often go unnoticed.
The Symptoms of an Acute DVT May Include:
- Sudden swelling in the leg or arm
- Pain or tenderness in the leg or arm, which might only manifest during standing or walking
- An unusually warm area on the swollen or painful leg or arm
- Red or discoloured skin
- Enlarged veins near the skin’s surface
- Abdominal or flank pain if blood clots affect deep abdominal veins
- Severe headaches or seizures (can occur when clots impact the brain veins)
Do not wait for symptoms to subside if you suspect DVT; we advise that you seek prompt treatment to avoid serious complications.
How is Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosed?
A diagnostic tool known as the d-dimer blood test can help screen for the potential presence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, this test does not provide a conclusive diagnosis; it merely suggests the probability of having DVT. A negative result can rule out DVT, but a positive result will need an ultrasound for confirmation.
At Cosmetic & Veins Clinic, DVT diagnosis is confirmed through a doppler ultrasound, which allows for the visualisation of the deep veins to check for any thrombus (blood clots).
Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatments
At Cosmetic & Veins Clinic, the primary goal of treatment is to reduce the likelihood of a clot enlarging or migrating to other areas of the body.
The approach to treatment however differs based on the clot’s size and location.
Medications
Anticoagulants: These blood thinners hinder the blood’s natural clotting process, preventing an existing clot from growing larger and thereby reducing the risk of it dislodging and moving elsewhere in the body.
Compression Stockings: These stockings provide external support to the lower leg, enhancing blood flow within the deep veins. Improved circulation reduces the likelihood of clot enlargement and fluid retention in the tissues.
How to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis
Preventing DVT involves mitigating the risk factors. This includes quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, and avoiding prolonged periods of immobility.
For individuals at higher risk of DVT due to medical conditions, a preventative dose of anticoagulant medication might be necessary. Additional measures that can help lower the risk of DVT include wearing compression stockings on the legs during times of expected immobility.
Addressing varicose veins can also contribute to long-term DVT prevention, as these veins increase the risk of developing DVT. After an initial DVT episode has been resolved, it is generally advisable to treat varicose veins to decrease the likelihood of future DVT occurrences.
