Deep Vein Thrombosis is a condition that arises when a blood clot is created in any of the deep veins present in our body. Usually, this happens in the legs resulting in swelling in that area. Patients can get DVT if they have a medical condition leading to blood clotting. A blood clot develops if there is reduced foot mobility for an extended period. The DVT can be serious as the blood clots could break loose. Read on to know more about the Diagnosis and treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis

The symptoms of DVT are as follows:

• Swelling in the leg
• Pain, cramps, and soreness are often felt in the calf area.
• Colour change of skin. Maybe pink and purple as per your original skin color
• A warm sensation on the affected leg

Diagnosis

In order to diagnose the ailment, the doctor will first ask you about your symptoms. He will check the swelling in the legs and the color of the skin etc. Next, the doctor might recommend any of the tests mentioned below,

• D Dimer blood test-D dimer is a protein that is produced by a clot. In this test, the levels of D dimer in the patient’s body are checked. People with DVT will have high levels of D dimer.
• Duplex Ultrasound-In this test, the sound waves are used to take pictures of blood flow through the veins. This is the standard test that is used to diagnose DVT.
• Venography-X rays and dyes are used to form a picture of the veins in the patient’s legs. However, the test is invasive and rarely adopted.
• MRI scan-The MRI scan is used to check the veins of the abdomen for DVT.

Treatment of DVT

Following are the few methods which doctors use to treat DVT.

Blood thinners-Also known as anti-coagulants, these keep the size of the blood clots reduced. They also keep the chance of getting any new clots to a minimum. You can take blood thinners orally or as injections.

Thrombolytics or clot busters- If DVT is highly serious and other medications are not effective, then Thrombolytics are suggested. The clot busters are administered through IV or using a Catheter. The use of clot busters is recommended only for patients who have severe blood clots.

Filters-In case you cannot take blood thinners, doctors will suggest filters. They will place the filter into any of your large veins like Vena cava. The presence of the filter stops the clots from going to the lungs and causing complications.

Compression stockings- These are knee socks that would stop blood from accumulating in the knees. Wear them from feet to knee level, depending on the location of swelling. 

Summing up

Identifying and treating Deep Vein Thrombosis is a difficult task even for specialists. As soon as you notice any symptoms mentioned below, you should consult your health care provider. Carelessness with DVT could lead to other serious complications. Contact your doctor before symptoms worsen. Deep Vein Thrombosis is treatable but timely intervention is imperative.

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