Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

People of any age can develop deep vein thrombosis, but it is most common in the elderly.

In this article:

What is a deep vein?

What is deep vein thrombosis?

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Effect on your life

Treatment

How Chemist Online can help

Advice & Support

What is a deep vein?
A deep vein differs from a ‘normal’ vein because it is much larger and runs through the thigh and calf muscles. Unlike other veins, deep veins are not always visible as being just beneath the surface of the skin.

What is deep vein thrombosis?
When a blood clot develops in one of the deep veins in the body, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is diagnosed.

Deep vein thrombosis can be a painful condition, but for some people there can be few or no symptoms at all.

Symptoms
Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include:

Pain, tenderness and swelling (to the affected leg)

Redness of the skin at and around the affected area

An inability to put your foot to the floor or to put pressure on your leg (i.e. at its full weight) in any way, due to the pain in it

Causes
Thrombosis in the deep veins of the thighs and calf muscles occurs when a blood clot develops there and stops the natural (and sufficient) blood flow through the veins. The entire blood flow can be stopped, or this can only partially occur. Either way, the interruption to the natural flow of blood through the leg causes the onset of the aforementioned symptoms.

It is rare for blood clots to develop in deep veins in other parts of the body (e.g., the arm). In fact, in the vast majority of cases, it is the calf muscle deep vein that becomes affected.

Diagnosis
If you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms, arrange an appointment with your GP. After taking your medical history and asking you some questions about your symptoms, they will also carry out a physical examination. From there, a decision will be made as to whether to refer you to a specialist for further tests.

If a confirmed diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis is made, an appropriate treatment will then be recommended to you.

Effect on your life
If you are diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis your overall mobility will be impaired.

Treatment
The usual treatment for deep vein thrombosis is anticoagulant medicines (e.g., warfarin). Once you start to take this medicine your blood clots will stop getting worse. They should then begin to heal and eventually clear up over time. Also the anticoagulants will stop new blood clots from forming. This is because they alter the chemicals in your blood, thinning them.

After having deep vein thrombosis you may need to wear compression stockings. These can feel uncomfortable at first, but most people soon get used to wearing them and find that they can considerably ease symptoms.

How Chemist Online can help
Through this website we have a range of treatments available to buy which can help promote better blood circulation (particularly in the calves, ankles and feet).



www.chemistonline.co.uk


Advice & Support
The Circulation Foundation
Tel. 020 7304 4779
Website: www.circulationfoundation.org.uk

Lifeblood – The Thrombosis Charity
Tel. 020 633 9937
Website: www.thrombosis-charity.org.uk


This information and advice is not intended to replace the advice of your GP or chemist. Chemist Online is also not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based upon the content of the Chemist Online website. Chemist Online is also not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.





---

Keywords: Medicines, Health, Beauty

By: mumsa1i

Free Article Directory: http://www.jumparticles.com

Copy and Paste Link Code:
<a href="http://www.jumparticles.com/1002234">Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)</a>

Article ID 1002234
This article has been viewed 774 times