Risk factors for DVT include: Age. Being older than 60 increases the risk of DVT . But DVT can occur at any age.
Blood clots may sound like a problem for older people or those who don't get up and move around much. But potentially life-threatening clots that form in the veins deep within your body can happen to anyone. Even young and active people can get deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
But deep vein thrombosis can happen at any age. You can take simple steps to lower your chances for a blood clot. Exercise your lower leg muscles if you're sitting for a long time while traveling.
The risk is greatest in the post-partum period and in women with multiple pregnancies. The presence of other risk factors such as antiphospholipid antibodies, inherited thrombophilias, obesity, increased maternal age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and obesity further increases the risk.
Venous thrombosis is most common in adults over age 60, but it can happen to people of any age.
The chances of developing DVT are about 1 in 1000 per year, although certain factors greatly increase this risk. Young people are less likely than older people to develop DVT. The cumulative chance of developing DVT over a lifetime ranges from 2 percent to 5 percent.
How Long Can You Have DVT Without Knowing? You can have DVT (deep vein thrombosis) without knowing for several days or weeks. However, some people may experience swelling, pain, or warmth in the affected area. It is essential to seek medical attention if you suspect DVT to prevent potential complications.
Venous thrombosis is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. About 10%–20% of patients develop a recurrence within 5 y [4]–[6], and up to 50% develop post-thrombotic syndrome within several months after the thrombotic event [7]. The mortality rate after venous thrombosis is about 20% within 1 y [2],[8].
DVT usually occurs in a deep leg vein, a larger vein that runs through the muscles of the calf and the thigh. It can also occur in the pelvis or abdomen. It can cause pain and swelling in the leg and may lead to complications such as pulmonary embolism.
throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness and warmth in a leg or arm. sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain (may be worse when you breathe in) and a cough or coughing up blood.
Many patients worry that being physically active might cause a DVT to break off and become a PE. The risk of clot breaking off and forming a PE is mostly present in the first few days, up to ≈4 weeks, while the clot is still fresh, fragile, and not scarred.
Many people with DVT blood clots will recover completely. But up to 50% will develop post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), a condition that can cause chronic pain, swelling, and discomfort that can permanently affect your quality of life.
This evaluation, known as Homan's Test, consists of laying flat on your back and extending the knee in the suspected leg. Have a friend or family member raise the extended leg to 10 degrees, then have them squeeze the calf. If there's deep pain in the calf, it may be indicative of DVT.
While a pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening, most patients survive DVT and need to learn how to live with the risk of recurrence. Your healthcare provider will probably prescribe anticoagulants, or blood thinners, which may be needed for as little as three months but can be lifelong treatment.
You should never ignore DVT. As with any medical condition, complications can develop when you have DVT. One in 10 develop a pulmonary embolism (PE), which happens when a clot in the leg works loose, moving through the bloodstream to the arteries in the lungs.
Prevent Blood Clots During Travel
Take steps to prevent blood clots. Stand up or walk occasionally. Select an aisle seat when possible so you can walk around every 2-3 hours. If traveling by car, include breaks in your travel schedule to stretch and walk around.
It's important to call your doctor right away or go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of a DVT. Don't wait to see if your symptoms go away. Get treatment right away to prevent serious complications.
The 5 P's of circulation assessment includes pain, pallor, pulse, paresthesia, and paralysis.
Stay active in the air – get up for a brief walk every hour or so, change your sitting position often, and avoid crossing your legs to keep the blood flowing in a healthy way. When you talk to your doctor about DVT, he or she may recommend compression stockings, a special tool to help prevent clots.
Duplex ultrasonography is an imaging test that uses sound waves to look at the flow of blood in the veins. It can detect blockages or blood clots in the deep veins. It is the standard imaging test to diagnose DVT. A D-dimer blood test measures a substance in the blood that is released when a clot breaks up.
Does blood clot pain come and go? Unlike the pain from a charley horse that usually goes away after stretching or with rest, the pain from a blood clot does not go away and usually gets worse with time.
Signs that you may have a blood clot
leg pain or discomfort that may feel like a pulled muscle, tightness, cramping or soreness. swelling in the affected leg. redness or discoloration of the sore spot. the affected area feeling warm to the touch.