Deep Vein Thrombosis, also known as DVT, is a dangerous condition that creates a blood clot inside a vein of your body. Your thigh or lower leg are the most common places where these blood clots form, however, it can also happen in other body parts. DVT may cause serious health issues and may be lethal in some situations. That's why you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible if you believe you are suffering from Deep Vein Thrombosis. Common signs of DVT include leg swelling, cramping, and discomfort in the affected limb.

It's possible that someone won't become aware of their DVT until they've had emergency care for a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung). However, there are many DVT treatment options, and after your diagnosis, it is possible for you to get better if you receive proper treatment.  

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)?

If your veins are damaged or the blood flow through them is excessively slow, a thrombus (blood clot) may form in deep veins within your body. This condition is known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), sometimes also known as venous thrombosis. Blood flow via your vein may be partially or totally blocked by the blood clot, and the lower leg and thigh are the most common parts where DVT forms. Although they can also develop in the arm, pelvis, intestines, liver, or kidney.

Up to half of people with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) have sporadic discomfort and leg swelling if the blood clot forms in the leg. These symptoms, known as post-thrombotic syndrome, might result from injury to your veins' inner lining and valves, which causes blood to ‘pool’. This results in discomfort and edema, as well as an increase in blood pressure inside the vein. DVT may not pose a life-threatening risk itself, but the blood clots can break loose and enter your circulation, and if they become stuck in your lung's blood arteries, it results in a pulmonary embolism (PE). 

What are the Deep Vein Thrombosis Symptoms? 

The following are the most common Deep Vein Thrombosis symptoms if a blood clot forms in your leg:

• Leg swelling
• Bulging veins that feel painful or rigid to the touch
• Throbbing pain in the leg 
• Red or darkened skin surrounding the painful area
• Warm skin surrounding the painful area 

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Causes 

A DVT can occur as a result of many circumstances or raise your chance of getting one. Here is a list of most common causes that can result in DVT:

• Injury - Damage to the wall of a blood artery can cause the blood flow to constrict or stop, and as a result, a blood clot could develop.
• Certain drugs - Certain medications, including glucocorticoids, antidepressants, hormone treatment medications, and birth control pills, raise the risk of blood clotting.  
• Surgery - A blood clot may form as a result of blood vessel injury sustained during surgery, and bed rest with minimal to no activity after the surgery may also raise the risk of blood clot formation.
• Age - Research shows that DVT can occur at any age, however as people get older, it becomes more common.  
• Inactivity - Sitting for extended periods of time long-term can cause blood to pool in your legs, particularly the lower ones, which may lead to the formation of a clot.
• Family history - Having a blood disorder that runs in your family increases your risk of developing DVT.
• Obesity - Being overweight may increase the strain on the veins in your legs and pelvis, and cause DVT.
• Cancer - Receiving chemotherapy increases your chance of developing DVT if you have pancreatic, lung, or stomach, among other malignancies.
• Pregnancy - Pregnancy raises the risk of DVT, and as a matter of fact, the risk of developing DVT is five to ten times higher in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women.
• Catheter - The risk of a blood clot developing is increased when a catheter is inserted into a vein.

Furthermore, a number of other medical disorders listed below may also raise the chance of developing DVT. 

• Cardiac issues, such as hypertension and heart failure
• Inflammatory bowel disease 
• Sepsis
• Asthma 
• Diabetes 
• TB and other bacterial or viral infections
• Sleep apnea 
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) 

Diagnosis of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Your doctor will examine your legs and lower body to look for any signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis, and they might want to do some tests as well. Here are the tests done to diagnose DVT: 

• Duplex Ultrasound

To check for blood clots, your doctor will do an ultrasound on certain body areas. Using sound waves, an ultrasound scanner produces pictures that show the flow of blood through your veins. In order to determine if the clot has expanded or more than one has formed, your doctor could ask you to return for several ultrasounds. 

• Venography

Due to its extreme invasiveness, this test is rarely performed. In this process, your doctor will inject dye into your vein and then take an X-ray in order to determine if the dye is appropriately passing through your veins. An ultrasound and other tests are usually performed before a doctor suggests the Venography test.   

• D-dimer Blood Test

Blood clots produce a kind of protein called D-dimer, which is present in the blood of most patients with severe DVT. That is why, to determine if you have elevated D-dimer levels, your doctor will do a blood test.

• MRI

For DVT in the belly or lower abdomen, MRIs are performed, however, MRI is not typical for the prevalent types of DVT.  

What are the Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Treatment Options?

The goal of DVT treatment is to stop the clot from spreading which lessens your chance of developing further clots and possibly avoid a pulmonary embolism. 

• Medications - Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), such as apixaban (Eliquis) or rivaroxaban (Xarelto), are the recommended medications, however, your doctor may also prescribe fondaparinux (Arixtra), enoxaparin (Lovenox), warfarin (Coumadin), and heparin.
•  Filters - If you are unable to take blood thinners, you may require a filter placed within the vena cava, a major vein in your abdomen. By preventing clots from entering your lungs, this therapy helps avoid pulmonary embolisms caused by DVT.
• Surgery - If you have a DVT clot in your arm or leg, your doctor could advise surgery to remove it, but this is usually only advised in cases of very big clots that result in major health problems.
• Compression stockings - Compression stockings can help reduce swelling and the danger of blood clots if you have a high risk of DVT. 

Final Remarks  

DVT is a dangerous illness that has the potential to be fatal if left untreated or undiagnosed. Identifying DVT can be challenging as many patients do not exhibit any symptoms at first or are unaware of the symptoms. It is best that you learn the signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis if you have the risk factors of forming DVT in the future. What’s more, visiting your doctor early is a must if you think you are experiencing symptoms of this disease.