What Are the Signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis?

In light of President Trump’s recent diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, interest in this condition has surged. This interest is well-warranted because about one in 20 American adults has this condition, too. 

Fortunately for the president’s health, he shows no evidence of a serious complication of chronic venous insufficiency: deep vein thrombosis (DVT). 

At Vascular & Interventional Associates in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, our team can similarly assess you for this serious health concern. Our team offers care to people throughout northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati, Ohio, area to determine if they’re living with venous insufficiency or deep vein thrombosis. 

Understanding deep vein thrombosis and its risk

To understand DVT, it helps to break down that name. You’re diagnosed with this condition when a thrombus (blood clot) forms in one of the deep veins of your legs or pelvis. Your deep veins are tasked with carrying oxygen-depleted blood back to your heart. 

On its own, the clot in one vein isn’t a huge problem. Your body has plenty of other blood vessels it can use if one becomes blocked. That’s why problems like varicose veins — in which the blood travels the wrong direction — generally don’t pose a threat to your overall health.

The risk with deep vein thrombosis doesn’t stem from the vein in your leg or pelvis. Instead, it comes from what can happen if that blood clot breaks loose. Once free, that clot can travel through your heart to your lungs, where it blocks blood flow.

There, it has the potential to cause a pulmonary embolism, resulting in what medical professionals call a venous thromboembolism (VTE). If you don’t get prompt care, VTE can be life-threatening. 

Risk factors and warning signs of deep vein thrombosis

Everyone should be on alert for this condition, but there are a few risk factors that make you more likely to develop a clot in your deep veins. Those include:

• A family history of DVT
• Long periods of inactivity
• Obesity
• Using tobacco products
• Varicose veins

Our team can help you evaluate your risk level and set up a monitoring program to fit your needs. 

It’s also important to check for this condition on your own at home. The warning signs to watch for include:

• A warm sensation in the affected leg
• Leg cramping
• Leg pain
• Skin discoloration — usually, red or purple areas on your leg
• Swelling

That said, sometimes deep vein thrombosis causes symptoms and sometimes it doesn’t. That’s why we offer diagnostic vascular ultrasound. This gives us a painless way to look at your deep veins and check for clots.

If you’re experiencing the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or you’re concerned about your risk and want to have the veins in your legs checked, we’re here to help. Make an appointment today by calling the Vascular & Interventional Associates office or booking a visit online.