According to Thrombosis UK, around one in every 1,000 people in the UK are affected by venous thrombosis each year, which is a blood clot in a vein. The most common type of venous thrombosis is deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in the leg.
Deep vein thrombosis can be a serious condition where a blood clot occurs in one of the deep veins (usually in the leg). A DVT can be extremely painful and should be treated urgently, as if the clot dislodges, it can travel to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism – a blocked blood vessel in the lungs.
The British Heart Foundation provide funding in to research to help better understand the process that causes deep vein thrombosis, and they estimate that around 60,000 people develop deep vein thrombosis in the UK every year. We have written this simple article in partnership with the British Heart Foundation to explore the signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis and provide some information on how it can be treated.
Spotting the signs of a DVT is the most important thing you can do to prevent serious complications from a blockage. The sooner a DVT is identified and treated, the lower the risk of developing more serious conditions, such as a pulmonary embolism. Deep vein thrombosis most commonly occurs in the leg, but the following symptoms can also happen in the arm or abdomen if that’s where the blood clot is. If you notice any of the signs or symptoms of deep vein thrombosis, you can contact NHS 111, your GP or call 999 if you experience symptoms such as breathlessness or chest pain.
Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis in the leg are:
Anyone can be affected by deep vein thrombosis, but there are a number of risk factors that can mean a DVT is more likely to occur:
There are also some environmental factors which can make you more at risk of DVT, such as:
If you have spotted any of the signs of DVT and have contacted 111, your GP or emergency services, the healthcare professional will ask you a series of questions and possibly examine for signs of DVT themselves.
If they believe you have DVT, you should be referred to hospital within 24 hours for an ultrasound scan. The scan shows whether blood is flowing normally through the vein. You may also have an X-ray of the vein (venogram) – where you will be injected with a dye to show where the blood clot is.
You may be given an injection of an anticoagulant (blood thinning) medicine, such as heparin, while you’re waiting for an ultrasound scan to diagnose the DVT.
After DVT is diagnosed, the main treatment is tablets of an anticoagulant medicine, such as warfarin and rivaroxaban. Most commonly, people take the tablets for at least 3 months with monitoring from their GP.
Alternatively, if blood thinning medicines are not suitable, you may have a filter put into a large vein (the vena cava) in your stomach. The filter stops a blood clot travelling to your heart and lungs, preventing a pulmonary embolism.
Treatment for a DVT in pregnancy is different, as you may be given anticoagulant injections for the rest of the pregnancy and until the baby is six weeks old.
Recovering from deep vein thrombosis is a combination of medical treatment and lifestyle changes you can do yourself. We understand that experiencing DVT can have an emotional and physical toll, and part of your recovery is coming to terms with what has happened and taking steps at your own pace. Once you have been discharged from hospital, your medical team are likely to encourage you to do the following:
Whether you have already experienced deep vein thrombosis, or you are considered at risk, there are several things that you can do to help minimise your risk of developing a DVT:
Over the last 60 years, research funded by the British Heart foundation has helped transform the lives of those living with heart and circulatory conditions. And as our charity partner of the year, we are committed to supporting the BHF to beat heartbreak forever.
If you or a loved one have experienced a DVT and need a little help at home, Helping Hands are here to provide person-centred support to help you get back on your feet. Working alongside district nurses and GPs, we’ll provide a bespoke level of support to help you to recover and live well following a DVT.
For more information on our home care services, please feel free to email or simply request a callback so that we can call you at a suitable time.