Understanding the Signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a complication of circulatory system problems that occurs in the deep veins of your legs. If you have any stage of vein disease, it puts you at risk of developing this potentially life-threatening condition. However, understanding the signs of DVT will help you know when to seek medical treatment.

At Heart Vascular & Leg Center, our team of board-certified vascular specialists understands how serious deep vein thrombosis can be. That’s why we offer the latest diagnostic and treatment options for our patients in the Bakersfield, California, area. Here’s what you need to know about DVT and the signs it can produce.

Vein disease basics

Vein disease is a progressive circulatory system problem that affects the structures responsible for returning blood to your heart. In this closed loop, your arteries transport oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your body, while the veins transport blood making the return trip. The problem for the veins, though, is they have to transport blood against the pull of gravity. Your body handles this in two ways:

1. Calf and thigh muscles contract, pushing the blood upward
2. One-way valves inside the veins close once blood passes through, preventing backflow

The valves are delicate and can become damaged due to injury or, more commonly, high blood pressure. When this happens, they can’t close completely, and the blood can backtrack along its path and pool around the valves. This decreased blood-flow condition, called venous insufficiency (VI), can progress to long-term chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

One of CVI’s most noticeable symptoms is the ropy, colored swellings on the calves and thighs — varicose veins.

The dangers of DVT

Varicose veins are noticeable because the veins are superficial (close to the skin's surface) and filled with stagnant blood. However, if you don’t address the underlying problem, you can experience symptoms in the deep veins of your leg tissue.

Slow-moving blood tends to clot or form a mass. If a clot (thrombus) forms in a deep vein, it further slows blood flow and can block it completely — this is deep vein thrombosis.

DVT isn’t the only cause of clot formation; clots can also form if the veins become narrow due to plaque build-up (atherosclerosis); if you sit for long periods, which impedes proper circulation; or if you’re on extended bed rest.

While interfering with blood flow is serious in its own right, the greater danger of DVT is when a clot breaks free, in whole or in part, from the vein wall and travels with the blood to the lungs. If it lodges in an airway, it causes what’s known as a pulmonary embolism (PE), a life-threatening condition.

Understanding the signs of DVT

According to the CDC, DVT only produces symptoms in roughly half the people who develop it. Knowing the signs, though, can lead you to get medical help. Signs to watch for include:

• Foot, ankle, and/or leg swelling
• Muscle cramping
• Severe pain near the blocked vein
• Warm, tender skin over the vein
• Pale blue or red skin over the vein

Signs that the clot has triggered a PE include:

• Abrupt difficulty breathing
• Rapid breathing
• Chest pain that’s worse with breathing or coughing
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Rapid heartbeat
• Coughing up blood

If you develop any symptoms of a PE, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room!

Treating DVT

The sooner you get medical help for DVT, the sooner you can regain your vein health.

At Heart Vascular & Leg Center, we develop a treatment plan after taking a complete medical history, performing a physical exam, and ordering any necessary testing, like a vascular ultrasound. Our goals are to prevent the clot from getting larger and ensure it doesn’t break free. Treatment may include:

• Blood thinning drugs (to prevent clot formation)
• Clot busters (drugs that break up existing clots)
• Compression stockings (improve blood flow)
• Surgical placement of a vena cava filter (prevents clots from getting into your lungs)

Our specialists also perform thrombectomies, surgical procedures that remove the blood clot from your vein, restoring normal blood flow.

Are you experiencing any of the signs of DVT? If so, it’s time to schedule an evaluation with one of our vascular specialists at Heart Vascular & Leg Center. Call our office at 661-443-5524 to set up an appointment, or book online today.