![]() You may have an injection of an anticoagulant medicine while you're waiting for an ultrasound scan to tell if you have DVT.Īfter DVT is diagnosed, the main treatment is an anticoagulant medicine (in tablet form), which you will probably need to take for at least six weeks. If the D-dimer test is negative, this can help rule out DVT. Blood clots produce a protein called D-dimer. Your doctor may also arrange blood tests, like a D-dimer blood test. Dye is injected into the foot and X-rays of the leg veins are taken to see if there is a blockage. You may also have an X-ray of the vein (venogram). An ultrasound shows if blood is flowing normally through the veins, or if there is a blockage. If a doctor thinks you have DVT, you will be referred for an ultrasound as soon as possible (usually within 24 hours). It’s important to get medical help as soon as possible if you think you have DVT. These symptoms can also happen in your arm or tummy if that's where the blood clot is. ![]() changes in skin colour of the leg (red, pale or blue).swelling of the lower leg, ankle and foot.throbbing, pain, cramping and tenderness (usually in the calf or thigh).The symptoms of DVT usually affect one leg (rarely both) and can include: If you are on medicines to prevent blood clots, such as anticoagulants, be sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations when traveling. Some people may benefit from wearing compression stockings, so speak to your doctor to understand if this is suitable for you. If you have any risk factors for DVT, speak with your doctor before travelling. do some simple leg and foot stretches every couple of hours to keep your calf muscles active when you’re sitting.move about whenever possible before, during, and after travelling.To help reduce the risk of DVT while travelling long distances: Long distance travel by air, road or rail for longer than four hours is associated with an increased risk of DVT in susceptible people. Sometimes DVT can happen for no obvious reason. are pregnant or if you've had a baby in the previous six weeks.go on a long journey (more than four hours) by plane, car or train.are confined to bed or have limited movement.have had an injury ( fractures, spinal cord injuries, muscle injuries).There are also some temporary situations that can increase the risk of DVT. take the contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy.have had DVT before or have a family history of blood clots or stroke at a young age.The ability of the blood to clot is essential for survival, but when it stops blood from flowing properly, it can cause problems. Together with clotting factors, the platelets produce a web or mesh, which traps more platelets and creates a plug to seal off the wound. When you get a cut or scratch, platelets collect at the site of the injury. Platelets are sticky and help the blood to thicken (coagulate), which is a normal part of wound healing. Blood clotting and DVTīlood contains platelets and compounds called clotting factors. If the clot is large enough, it can completely block the blood vessel and in some cases can cause death. When this happens, it is called a pulmonary embolus. Sometimes a blood clot can travel from the leg and lodge in a blood vessel in the lungs. This includes an injury, surgery or long periods of sitting or lying. Valves in the veins also help this process, ensuring the blood flows in one direction.Īnything that slows the flow of blood through the deep veins in the legs can cause DVT. When the calf muscles contract, they compress the veins and force the blood upwards to the heart (against gravity). When this happens, the clot can block the flow of blood and oxygen to parts of the body, which can cause potentially serious health effects.īlood flow through the leg veins generally requires help from calf muscles. The term ‘thrombosis’ refers to the formation of a blood clot in a blood vessel. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is where a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the leg (veins below the skin’s surface that are not visible through the skin).
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