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The chance increases even more for someone who has more than one of these factors at the same time. About half of people with DVT have no symptoms at all. The following are the most common symptoms of DVT that occur in the affected part of the body:.
That is why it is important for you to seek medical care if you experience any of the symptoms of DVT or PE. Medication is used to prevent and treat DVT. Compression stockings also called graduated compression stockings are sometimes recommended to prevent DVT and relieve pain and swelling. These might need to be worn for 2 years or more after having DVT.
In severe cases, the clot might need to be removed surgically. Immediate medical attention is necessary to treat PE. In cases of severe, life-threatening PE, there are medicines called thrombolytics that can dissolve the clot.
Other medicines, called anticoagulants, may be prescribed to prevent more clots from forming. Some people may need to be on medication long-term to prevent future blood clots.
DVT does not cause heart attack or stroke. There are two main types of blood clots. How a clot affects the body depends on the type and location of the clot:. Both types of clots can cause serious health problems, but the causes and steps you can take to protect yourself are different. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. The filter is inserted inside a large vein called the vena cava. The filter catches blood clots before they travel to the lungs, which prevents pulmonary embolism.
However, the filter does not stop new blood clots from forming. A filter is not usually recommended if you have taken blood thinners. As you recover from your short-term treatment for VTE, you will need to follow up with your doctor regularly to monitor your condition and discuss whether you need to continue taking blood-thinning medicines. You will also want to take steps to prevent a repeat VTE event and be aware of possible long-term complications.
See a doctor or go to the emergency room if you have any signs of excessive bleeding, which can happen if your medicine dose is too high. When you return home, your doctor may recommend healthy lifestyle changes to help improve your recovery. It can take a year or more for clots to break up or stabilize and for blood flow to return to normal. If you were previously treated with blood thinners and experience a repeat VTE event, your doctor may recommend changing your medicine dose or switching you to a different type of blood thinner.
If you take a dose of blood-thinning medicine that is too high, it may cause bleeding in the digestive system or in the brain. These side effects can be life threatening. A lot of bleeding after a fall or injury, or easy bruising or bleeding, may mean that your blood is too thin.
Excessive bleeding is bleeding that will not stop after you apply pressure to a wound for 10 minutes. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs. If you have severe bleeding, call We are committed to advancing science and translating discoveries into clinical practice to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders, including VTE.
Learn about current and future NHLBI efforts to improve health through research and scientific discovery. Learn about some of the pioneering research contributions we have made over the years that have improved clinical care.
In support of our mission , we are committed to advancing VTE research in the following ways. We lead or sponsor many studies on venous thromboembolism, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. See if you or someone you know is eligible to participate in our clinical trials.
Learn more about participating in a clinical trial. View all trials from ClinicalTrials. After reading our VTE Health Topic, you may be interested in additional information found in the following resources. Venous Thromboembolism.
Venous thromboembolism VTE is a disorder that includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. A deep vein thrombosis DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis. A pulmonary embolism PE occurs when a clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs.
The risk of developing VTE is highest after major surgery or a major injury, or when you have heart failure, cancer, or a heart attack. Swelling, redness, and pain are some of the signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. A pulmonary embolism can cause sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. Sometimes VTE occurs without any obvious signs. Medicines that help prevent further blood clots from forming or that dissolve serious vein blockages are the main treatments for VTE.
This can be especially serious in the case of a pulmonary embolism, which blocks blood flow to the lungs.
If a blood clot is large or there are many clots, a pulmonary embolism can cause death. Causes - Venous Thromboembolism. Read more. Read less. Risk Factors - Venous Thromboembolism. Surgery Knee and hip replacement surgery, in particular, carry a high risk for VTE, as does peripheral and coronary artery bypass surgery, surgery to remove cancer, neurosurgery, abdominal surgery, and other major operations.
Other medical conditions Certain medical conditions can increase your risk of developing a DVT. Some conditions are more closely linked to developing VTE than others and include the following: Spinal cord injury. In addition to damaging veins deep in your body, spinal cord injury may cause paralysis, which can reduce blood flow and raise your risk of VTE.
The risk is highest in the first weeks after the injury. A broken hip or leg bone or other trauma. Cancers such as advanced brain, breast, colon, and pancreatic cancer. Cancer chemotherapy, surgical treatment, and placement of a central venous catheter—a tube inserted into a vein to deliver chemotherapy treatment or other medicine—all increase the risk of VTE.
Some cancers release substances that can make it easier for blood to clot. Some cancerous tumors may directly block blood flow by pressing on a vein. A central venous catheter increases the risk for VTE in arm veins, especially in children. Heart conditions such as heart attack or congestive heart failure. Stroke Obesity Varicose veins. Most varicose veins do not cause problems, but large, untreated varicose veins can lead to VTE.
Watch our video to learn more about how COVID can lead to a blood clot in the lungs or deep veins, usually in the legs. Sickle cell disease.
This condition makes the blood clot more easily and can be a risk factor for VTE. Hormone-based medicines Women who take birth control pills or get hormone therapy have an increased risk of clotting. Pregnancy and giving birth Women are at higher risk for VTE during the first six weeks after giving birth to a baby. Not moving for long periods Being still slows blood flow through the veins in your arms and legs, raising your risk of deep vein thrombosis. Age VTE can occur at any age, but your risk increases as you age.
Family history and genetics Heredity can affect your chances of developing VTE. What is Factor V Leiden? Sex Women in their childbearing years are more likely to develop VTE than men of the same age.
Screening and Prevention - Venous Thromboembolism. Prevent a first VTE event. Doctors may suggest three ways to help prevent VTE: Movement. Helping your blood circulate makes it harder for clots to form. Your doctor may recommend that you move around as soon as possible after surgery and as you heal.
If you cannot get up and walk, try to flex and stretch your feet to improve blood flow in your calves. Gentle pressure keeps blood from pooling and clotting. Your doctor may recommend applying pressure—for example, by wearing a sleeve or boot that periodically fills with air, or by wearing graduated compression stockings. Your doctor may give you anticoagulant, or blood-thinning, medicines to prevent clotting. Sometimes this preventive therapy starts before surgery.
Or, you may be asked to take a blood thinner during your recovery period at home. These medicines, such as heparin, warfarin, and direct oral anticoagulants, are also used to treat VTE. Look for. Diagnosis will discuss tests and procedures that your doctor may use to diagnose VTE. Life After will explain what your doctor may recommend to prevent your VTE from recurring, getting worse, or causing complications. Research for Your Health will discuss how we are using current research and advancing research to prevent VTE.
Signs, Symptoms, and Complications - Venous Thromboembolism. Signs and symptoms. Deep vein thrombosis may cause the following to occur around the area of a blood clot: Swelling Pain or tenderness Increased warmth, cramps, or aching in the area that is swollen or painful, usually the calf or thigh Red or discolored skin Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism include: Shortness of breath Pain with deep breathing Rapid breathing Increased heart rate Less common signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism may include coughing, with or without blood; feelings of anxiety or dread; light-headedness or fainting; and sweating.
Possible complications of VTE include: Post-thrombotic syndrome PTS , in which poor blood flow, inflammation, and blood vessel damage from deep vein thrombosis cause swelling and discomfort. PTS is a long-lasting condition that can be disabling.
With PTS, you may notice swelling, pain, itchiness, or discoloration in the affected area, along with cramping or fatigue. The symptoms may feel worse if you have been on your feet for an extended period. In severe cases, skin sores may develop. Compression stockings may help relieve PTS symptoms. Pulmonary hypertension , which occurs when pulmonary embolism blocks blood flow and raises blood pressure in the vessels leading to your lungs.
This condition can lead to heart failure. If you develop pulmonary hypertension, you may find it hard to breathe, especially after physical activity, or you may cough up blood, notice swelling, feel tired, have palpitations , or faint. If you still have pulmonary hypertension several months after a VTE event, your doctor may refer you to a specialist to talk about the possibility of surgery to remove a lung clot that has not gone away with treatment.
Diagnosis will discuss tests and procedures used to detect signs of blood clots and blockage and help rule out other conditions that may mimic VTE. Treatment will explain treatment-related complications or side effects of VTE, such as bleeding. Diagnosis - Venous Thromboembolism. Medical history and physical exam. Your doctor may examine your heart rate and the area that is affected and ask about your overall health, including: Your recent medical history, especially any paralysis or periods of immobilization Medicines you are taking Recent surgeries or injuries you have had Whether you have been treated for cancer.
Diagnostic tests and procedures. D-dimer test to measure a substance in the blood that is released when the fibrin proteins in a blood clot dissolve. If the test shows high levels of the substance, you may have VTE.
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