Can my lifestyle contribute to DVT? This question was being asked by some of my clients who were experiencing symptoms of DVT or had friends and family members who were.
With imposed confinement during the COVID pandemic, many people were more sedentary, extensively sitting and lying down, and now working from home with very little to no exercise.
DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in the deep veins. These clots usually develop in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis, but they can also occur in the arm. There is also a blood clot that develops in a vein close to the surface of the skin. It is called Superficial venous thrombosis. These types of blood clots rarely travel to the lungs unless they move from the superficial system into the deep veins first. While a physician can diagnose superficial vein clots with a physical exam, they can only diagnose DVT with an ultrasound.
A most serious complication of DVT occurs when a part of the clot breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing a blockage called Pulmonary Embolism (PE). If the clot is small, and is treated appropriately, one usually can recover from PE. However, there could be some damage to the lungs. If the clot is large, it can stop blood from reaching the lungs and is fatal.
One-third to one-half of people who have a DVT can have long-term complications because of the damage that the clot has done to the valves in the vein. According to the CDC, about 30% of people who have had DVT or PE are at risk for another episode.
POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF DVT:
Sudden swelling in Leg or arm
Soreness or pain upon standing
The skin looks red or blue
Warm feeling in the area that hurts
Enlarged veins
If you think you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, see your doctor right away.
CAUSE OF DVT:
Sitting for long periods at home, especially with crossed legs. Confinement to bed. Long flights and long car rides. Blood then has difficulty circulating.
OTHER CAUSES:
Smoking, which makes it easier for clots to form.
Inherited blood disorders. Diseases that cause blood to clot more than normal, does run in some families.
Age. Even though DVT can happen at any age, risk increases as age increases. • Bed rest, after surgery, being in a hospital for a long time.
Obesity can also be a cause
Birth control pills, added estrogen
Hormone replacement therapy. Too much estrogen can raise the blood’s clotting mechanism.
Pregnancy can also be a cause of DVT and can still occur even up to 6 weeks after giving birth.
TIPS THAT CAN HELP TO PREVENT DVT:
Move around as soon as possible after having been confined to bed, for example, after surgery or illness.
If you’re at risk for DVT, talk to your doctor about compression stockings (sometimes called “medical compression stockings”)
When traveling for more than four hours get up and walk around every 1 to 2 hours.
When sitting for long periods of time wear loose-fitting clothes and exercise your legs while you’re sitting by:
Raising and lowering your heels while keeping your toes on the floor
Raising and lowering your toes while keeping your heels on the floor
Tightening and releasing your leg muscles
Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle.
Do health bounces on a rebounder.
MORE FACTS
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:
A blood clot in a deep vein of the leg, pelvis, and sometimes arm, is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This type of blood clot does not cause heart attack or stroke.
A blood clot in an artery, usually in the heart or brain, is called arterial thrombosis. This type of blood clot can cause heart attack or stroke.
Resources:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/facts.html
Comments