Varicose veins are unsightly sometimes bluish bulgy veins seen in the legs. In women these can result from pregnancies and may be exacerbated by cyclic hormone production, weakness of the vein wall, heredity, and lifestyle.
Do you think you might have a DVT? Call our DVT & LEG HEALTH HOTLINE 833-687-6887
By Samuel P. Martin, MD, FACS
Did you know that DVT affects about 600,000 people a year, and is the leading cause of preventable hospital deaths in the United States, the leading cause of maternal death in the United States, and causes chronic lifelong symptoms in half of all affected individuals?
A Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT, is a blood clot within the deep veins (those surrounded by muscle in the legs) or the veins in the pelvis. Clots can occur in the deep veins of the arms but they are rare. The clot causes obstruction to blood flow in the vein typically associated with the upper thigh or sometimes behind the knee. If a blood clot breaks free, it will move through your bloodstream and can get stuck in your lungs or your brain. It can be fatal. The clot can be completely asymptomatic (“silent”) in the affected vein, or it can cause:
Consult your physician immediately if you have any of the symptoms above.
Many things can increase your chance for developing a DVT. The development of DVT is associated with a variety of risk factors, including:
Risk can be reduced by:
Clots in the deep veins require medicinal therapy. Your provider may prescribe an anticoagulant or blood thinner such as Heparin or Coumadin. You should try to stay active, wear compression stockings and elevate your legs when sitting.
Resolve to get up, get out, keep moving and wear your compression for healthy, beautiful legs.
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Varicose veins are unsightly sometimes bluish bulgy veins seen in the legs. In women these can result from pregnancies and may be exacerbated by cyclic hormone production, weakness of the vein wall, heredity, and lifestyle.
Struggling with itching skin? If creams and lotions haven’t helped abate the itch, the issue may lie deeper than skin. This might be a vein problem. Read on to see what it could be and how to fix it.
Finding it difficult to travel for in-person appointments? Whether it’s your schedule or lack of reliable transportation, we can help. With telehealth, you can take care of your vein health from home.
Pregnancy is a time of great anticipation, so don’t let the fear of deep vein thrombosis overtake your excitement. You should know, though, that your risk for deep vein thrombosis increases during pregnancy. Learn more here.
Are you worried about itchiness around your veins? This could be because of underlying vein disease problems. Find out which ones and how to receive treatment by reading here.
As we progress into 2022, Vascular Vein Centers continues our commitment to healthy legs for a healthy life and we will serve our patients while exceeding CDC COVID-19 safety standards.