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Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a medical condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins of your body, usually in your legs, but sometimes in your arm. The main cause of DVT is a condition called venous stasis, in which blood does not flow around the body as well as it should, leading to clots forming in the veins.

Causes

The main cause of DVT is a condition called venous stasis, in which blood does not flow around the body as well as it should. This can be due to a number of factors, including:

• Being immobile for long periods of time, such as during a long flight or car journey
• Having certain medical conditions or treatments that make your blood more likely to clot, such as cancer or hormone therapy
• Having had a DVT before
• Being overweight or obese

Symptoms

The symptoms of DVT can include:

• Swelling in the affected leg or arm
• Pain or tenderness in the leg or arm, often starting in the calf and can feel like cramping or soreness
• Red or discolored skin on the leg or arm
• A feeling of warmth in the affected leg or arm

Diagnosis

DVT can be diagnosed using a variety of tests, including:

• A Doppler ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create a picture of the blood flow in your veins
• A venogram, which involves injecting a special dye into your veins so they can be seen on an X-ray
• A D-dimer test, which can detect pieces of blood clot that have been broken down and are loose in your blood

Treatment

Treatment for DVT usually involves medications to prevent the blood clot from getting bigger and to stop new clots from forming. This can include:

• Anticoagulant medications, such as warfarin or heparin
• Thrombolytic therapy, which involves injecting a drug into the vein to dissolve the blood clot
• In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove the blood clot

Prevention

There are several ways to help prevent DVT, including:

• Regular exercise
• Staying hydrated
• Avoiding sitting still for long periods of time
• Wearing compression stockings if you're at high risk of DVT

See also

• Venous stasis
• Doppler ultrasound
• Venogram
• D-dimer test
• Anticoagulant
• Thrombolytic therapy

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