Deep Vein Thrombosis: Causes, Symptoms, & Prevention

In the human body, blood clots occur naturally in response to bleeding: the job of a clot is to stop the bleeding, the first step toward healing a wound.

Without blood clots, humans would be at an increased risk of prolonged or excessive bleeding, which would have life-threatening consequences.

Simply put, blood clots are a key safety measure for our bodies.

However, blood clots can form at the wrong time or in the wrong place as well – and in these cases, the results can be very serious.

According to the CDC, up to 100,000 Americans die of blood clots each year.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the more common forms of blood clot, affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans on a yearly basis – but DVT isn’t a widely known condition.

What is deep vein thrombosis?

DVT is a blood clot that occurs in one of the body’s deep veins.

These veins are, for lack of a better descriptor, “deep” in the body, as opposed to the superficial veins that are closer to the surface of our skin.

Where does deep vein thrombosis occur?

DVT can occur wherever deep veins are present, and there are many different deep veins in the human body.

However, DVT most commonly occurs in the legs, pelvis, and arms.

What causes deep vein thrombosis?

DVT doesn’t have a single root cause; instead, the clots can be caused by a number of different factors.

These factors include:

• Hypercoagulable states, which are disorders that lead to an increased likelihood of blood clots. These can be inherited conditions, like genetic mutations, or can be caused by other factors, like cancer or smoking.
• Implanted catheters
• Immobilization
• Trauma, surgery, or pregnancy
• Medications
• Age
• Obesity

What are the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis?

Common symptoms of DVT include:

• Swelling, pain, and/or warmth in the leg or arm
• A rope-like mass (known as a palpable cord) in the calf

DVT can happen without symptoms as well.

If you suspect that you have DVT, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.

What are the potential complications of deep vein thrombosis?

DVT can cause a number of different complications, including:

• Pulmonary embolism, which occurs when the clot breaks free and travels to the lungs. Pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency – seek care immediately if you experience sudden shortness of breath, chest pain that gets worse with a deep breath, or coughing up blood.
• Chronic leg swelling, which can cause significant pain or discomfort, particularly when moving.
• Chronic venous inefficiency, which occurs when blood pools in the legs and can lead to swelling, pain, and skin discoloration.

How can I avoid deep vein thrombosis?

Individuals who are at higher risk of developing blood clots, whether due to inherited conditions or other factors, should speak to their doctor about medication options.

For individuals who aren’t high risk:

• Avoid sitting still for too long, particularly on long plane or car rides. Moving around regularly helps decrease the risk of DVT.
• Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.
• Quit smoking.

Gustavo Bauzá, MD is a general and critical care surgeon at South Shore Health.