Unlike the veins that can be seen on a person’s wrist, neck, thighs, and other areas, deep veins are present much more internally. Deep veins include ulnar, axillary, radial, brachial, and subclavian veins. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which blood clots form in such veins. DVT blood clots form in a person’s thigh, lower leg, pelvis, and, less commonly, on the arms. Here are some details about the condition:

Signs and symptoms of DVT
Healthcare professionals can diagnose DVT by detecting some of the following signs and symptoms in individuals:

Swelling and pain in legs
The blood clots in DVT damage valves and veins in a person’s legs. As a result, a pool of blood forms in their legs, causing pain and swelling in their calves and knees. This leakage of blood is mainly caused by the weakening of the valves and veins brought about by the clots. Other similar symptoms include cramping and soreness in one’s limbs.

Additionally, DVT blood clots tend to cause pain in one leg or arm and not the other. These one-sided cramps, swelling, or pain are a surefire sign of the condition.

Hard and sore veins
The DVT blood clots affect the elasticity of one’s deep veins. As a result, such veins tend to become incredibly swollen. At the same time, the veins also become rigid and sore. Individuals may also experience pain in these blood vessels because of this phenomenon. Apart from this, a person’s skin turns deep, darkened red around the area of such deep veins. Additionally, people may find that the skin around the affected vein/painful area frequently becomes warm.

Coughing up blood
This DVT sign/symptom is seen in the later stages of the condition in an individual. Coughing up blood directly results from hemoptysis, which causes pulmonary embolism, also known as a blood clot in the lungs. Usually, treating such a condition may worsen a patient’s health condition.

People with DVT must consult a healthcare expert to begin treatment before the condition can advance to this phase.

Dizziness
If left untreated for longer, DVT can negatively affect an individual’s breathing, especially if the blood clot is in the lungs. As a result, people with DVT may feel lightheaded and dizzy as their blood does not sufficiently carry oxygen and other nutritional elements to their brains.

Causes of DVT
There are many ways in which a person can end up developing DVT. Some of the key causes include:

No physical activity
DVT usually affects one of the deep veins in an individual’s feet. Exercise helps people strengthen their leg muscles and, more importantly, coax their deep veins into squeezing blood upwards. A lack of physical activity for a prolonged period can gradually result in the formation of a clot.

Family history of blood clots
Research studies have found that DVT blood clots can be genetically inherited. So, if an individual’s family tree has anybody living with this condition, there is a slight chance of them developing it in their lifetime too.

Malignancy
Certain kinds of cancer, such as the ones affecting an individual’s lungs, pancreas, stomach, brain, uterus, ovaries, and kidneys, as well as blood cancers like myeloma and lymphoma, bring a risk of blood clots with them. Additionally, the risk factor increases with the stage of cancer a person is suffering from. To prevent this, one must screen themselves regularly for cancer at their local healthcare centers.

Past surgeries
Most surgeries, especially major neurovascular and orthopedic ones, come with an element of DVT risk with them. Additionally, the immobilization that any surgery brings also contributes to this risk element for individuals.

DVT treatment alternatives
DVT can become life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated in its initial stages. Fortunately, DVT can be prevented and even treated successfully if healthcare experts can diagnose the condition in individuals in its early stages. Here are some effective treatment alternatives for DVT:

Compression stockings usage
Compression stockings are used to gradually improve and eliminate leg swelling in people with DVT. These stockings are generally worn just below one’s knee, and they help regulate the blood flow and reduce the chances of more blood clots forming in a person’s deep veins. Research studies have found that using such stockings can dramatically reduce the severity of DVT symptoms and, most importantly, reduce pain and swelling by as much as 50 percent in patients.

Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants are prescription-based products that reduce the viscosity (or thickness) of a person’s blood. By reducing a person’s blood thickness, anticoagulants can break down clots in their deep veins and eventually restore normal blood circulation.