Deep Vein Thrombosis: Risks & Symptoms; Part II

Risk Factors

Many factors may increase your risk for deep vein thrombosis:

• Having an inherited blood clotting disorder

• Having slowed blood flow—resulting from injury, surgery (particularly orthopedic surgery or abdominal surgery), or immobilization—in a deep vein

• Having cancer and undergoing treatment for it Note: Tamoxifen, a hormone drug for breast cancer, significantly increases one risk of having DVT.

• Having other medical conditions, such as varicose veins

• Sitting for a long period of time, for example, on a long trip in a car or on an airplane When you walk, the muscles of the legs squeeze the veins and move blood to the heart. If you can’t walk, even wiggling your toes around will help the blood to return through your veins to the heart.

• Pregnancy, especially the first 6 weeks after giving birth

• Being over age 60. Although deep vein thrombosis can occur in any age group; the risk of DVT doubles for every 10 years after 60.

• Being overweight

• Taking birth control pills or hormone therapy, including for postmenopausal symptoms

• Having a central venous catheter, which accounts for almost 1 in 10 cases

• Cigarette smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict and also affects the clotting process

Your risk for deep vein clots increases if you have several risk factors at the same time. For example, if you are overweight, taking a long airplane trip, and are taking birth control pills, your risk for DVT is significantly higher.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis and of Pulmonary Embolism?

It is important to see a doctor right away if you have symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Deep vein thrombosis can cause very serious complications if not treated.

Unfortunately, only about half of the people with deep vein thrombosis have any symptoms. When a subsequent clot travels to the lung and causes a pulmonary embolism; they wrongly assume they are having a heart attack. This is because symptoms of a heart attack, and symptoms of pulmonary embolism are very similar; shortness of breath (which is the most common for pulmonary embolism) and/or chest pain.

Symptoms, when they do occur, may include one or all of the following:

• Swollen area of the leg.

• Pain or tenderness in the leg. The pain is usually in one leg and may be felt only when standing or walking. People generally describe it as a 'charley horse' which becomes gradually worse.

• Increased warmth in the area of the leg that is swollen or in pain.

• Red or discolored skin.

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