DVT Cause and Cure

DVT, or deep vein thrombosis, is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins in your body. It most often occurs in the leg. This condition can cause serious complications, as the blood clot may travel to your lungs.

Causes

• DVT is caused by a blood clot forming due to your blood not circulating or clotting as it should. Blood clots can form due to underlying medical conditions, or because of the body's defense against damage to the arteries. Most cases of DVT go away without treatment, though it is best to seek medical advice.

Diagnosis

• DVT is diagnosed through a series of tests including an MRI, CT scan, venography and ultrasound. Most of these tests provide an image of the body that is not visible through any other tests, and each one will help a doctor see if a blood clot has formed in one of the deep veins.

Treatment

• Blood thinners and clot busters are the two primary medications used to treat DVT. Blood thinners decrease the body's ability to clot, ensuring that the blood clot will not grow larger in size. Blood thinners also prevent additional clots from forming.

  Clot busters are used for serious DVT cases to break up blood clots. According to the Mayo Clinic, clot busters can cause serious bleeding and are only used in life-threatening situations.

  If a patient is unable to take blood thinners or clot busters due to other medical conditions, filters will be used to keep the blood clot from lodging in the lungs if it happens to break loose.

  Compression stockings may be used with the medications and filters to prevent the swelling that often occurs due to this condition. The stockings are worn on the legs to apply pressure, preventing the blood from clotting there.

Cures

• Clot busters are the only medications that will cure DVT. The body typically cures the condition on its own unless an underlying medical condition prevents it from doing so.

Prevention

• According to the Mayo Clinic, DVT may be preventable by taking prescribed medications, exercising your lower calves, moving frequently if you have been on bed rest, losing weight, not smoking and wearing compression stockings. If you are at high risk of developing blood clots, these measures may help prevent the clots from forming.

Complications

• DVT can lead to further complications including pulmonary embolism and post-phlebitic syndrome. Pulmonary embolism occurs when the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. This condition can be fatal if not treated, and causes such symptoms as shortness of breath, coughing up blood, anxiety and nervousness, and chest pain or discomfort. Post-phlebitic syndrome develops when the blood clot damages the veins. This causes a reduction in blood flow to the area. Symptoms of this condition include leg pain, skin discoloration and swelling.