Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

March 10, 2021Articles8

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in a serious condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein located deep inside your body. A blood clot is a clump of blood that turned to a solid state.
Deep vein clots typically form in your thigh or lower leg, but they can also develop in other areas of your body. Deep vein thrombosis ( DVT )can cause leg pain or swelling but also can occur with no symptoms. A blood clot in your legs can also happen if you don’t more for a long time, such as after you have surgeryor an accident, when you are travelling a long distance or when you are on bed rest.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)can be serious when blood clots in veins break, loose and travel through your bloodstream and get stuck in lungs, blocking blood flow.This blocking of blood flow is known as Pulmonary embolism(PE).
When DVT and pulmonary embolism occur together, it is called as Venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Symptoms-

• Being overweight or obese-
Obesity increases the pressure in the veins in your pelvis and legs.
• Sitting for long periods of time, such as when driving or flying –
When your legs remain still for hours, your calf muscles don’t contract. Muscle contractions normally help blood to circulate.
• Prolonged bed rest, such as during a long hospital stay or paralysis-
Due to lack of movement in your calf muscle for long period blood can clot in calf muscles.
• Pregnancy –
Pregnancy increases the pressure in the veins in your pelvis and legs.The risk of blood clots from pregnancy can continue for up to 6 weeks after you delivered your baby.
• Birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy –
Both can increase your blood’s ability to clot.
• Smoking –
By affecting blood clotting and circulation, smoking increases the risk of DVT.
• Injury or surgery –
Injury to your veins or surgery can increase the risk of blood clots.
• Some Diseases –
Diseases like cancer, heartfailure, inflammatory bowel disease can also increases the riskof DVT.
• No known risk factor-
Sometimes,a blood clot in a vein can occur with no apparent underlying risk factor. This is called an unprovoked VTE.
Complications –
• Pulmonary embolism(PE) –

PE is a potentially life-threatening complication associated with DVT. It occurs when a blood vessel in your lung becomes blocked by a blood clot that travels to your lung from another part of your body, usually your leg.
• Postphlebitic syndrome –
Damage to your veins from the blood clot reduces blood flow in the affected areas, causing leg pain and swelling, skin discoloration and skin sores.
• Treatment complications-
Complications may result from blood thinners used to treat DVTs. Haemorrhage(bleeding) is a serious side effect of blood thinners.
Diagnosis –
A doctor will usually not be able to diagnose DVT through symptoms alone and may recommend tests, including –
• D-dimer test
• Ultrasound
• Venogram
• Other imaging scans such as MRI and CT scans.
Treatment –
There are several recommended methods to manage DVT which are as follows –
• Anticoagulant medications-
These are drugs that prevent the clot from growing, as well as reducing the risk of embolism. Two types of anticoagulants support the treatment of DVT- Heparin and warfarin.
Heparin has an immediate effect. For this reason, doctors usually administer it first through a brief course of injections lasting less than a week.
With warfarin, the doctor is likely to recommend a 3-6 month course of oral tablets to prevent recurrence of DVT.
• Thrombolysis –
People with more severe DVT or PE require immediate medical attention.The doctor or emergency team administers drugs called thrombolytic or clot busters such as tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), that break down clots.
• Inferior vena cava filter-
A surgeon inserts a very small device, resembling an umbrella, into the vena cava, which is a large vein. The device catches blood clots and stops them moving into the lungs while allowing blood flow to continue.
• Compression stocking –
People wear these to help reduce pain, limit swelling and prevent ulcers from developing. Stockings can also protect the individual from post thrombotic syndrome. Someone with DVT will have to wear stockings at all times for at least 24 months.
• Mechanical thrombectomy –
This is a relatively new technique that surgeons may use to treat a blood clot by using a catheter and a clot-removing device.
Ayurvedic Perspective –
According to Ayurveda, there is no direct reference of any such disease but causes, signs & symptoms of DVT resemble the following conditions in Ayurveda –
• Siragata Vata
• Raktavritta Vata
• Vatarakta
• Sirajgranthi
Doshas gets aggravated in this are Vata, Pitta, Kapha and Rakta.
Treatment-
▪︎ Effective Procedures-
• Jalukavacharan-

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