Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) means a blood clot has formed inside a vein, most often in the leg. In the UK, it affects roughly 1 person in every 1000 each year.
Common Symptoms
Emergency Warning Signs
Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
You have symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), like pain and swelling, as well as:
- breathlessness
- chest pain
Phone 111 or contact your GP practice urgently if:
- you think you have deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
You have symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), like pain and swelling, as well as:
- breathlessness
- chest pain
Phone 111 or contact your GP practice urgently if:
- you think you have deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Causes
Anyone can develop DVT, but the risk goes up as you get older. You are also more likely to get it if any of the following apply to you:
- You stay inactive for long stretches, for example after an operation or during a long journey
- You have had DVT, a pulmonary embolism or a blood clot before
- DVT, pulmonary embolism or blood clots run in your family
- Your blood vessels have been damaged, for example through an injury or a condition such as varicose veins
- You are pregnant or gave birth within the last 6 weeks
- You take the contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- You are having chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- You have cancer
- You have a heart or lung condition
- You smoke
- You are overweight or obese
Sometimes DVT develops for no clear reason at all.
Diagnosis
If your doctor suspects DVT, you'll need a few tests to confirm it. One is a blood test called a D-dimer test, and you may also have an ultrasound scan, which shows whether blood is flowing normally through your veins or whether a clot is blocking the way.
In some cases, you may also need a venogram, a special X-ray of the vein. For this, a dye is injected into your body so the clot can be seen clearly on the X-ray.
Treatment
There are a few different ways to treat DVT, and your healthcare team will decide what suits your symptoms best.
Anticoagulant medicines
Anticoagulant medicines are used to treat DVT. These can include warfarin or apixaban.
People often call anticoagulants "blood thinning" medicines, but they don't actually thin the blood. Instead, they alter certain proteins in the blood so that clots don't form as easily.
You may need to take an anticoagulant such as warfarin for at least 3 months.
Compression socks
You'll be prescribed compression socks to treat DVT. These are knee high elastic socks that help improve blood circulation.
Compression socks can ease DVT symptoms such as pain and swelling, and they can also help prevent complications of DVT.
Once you've been prescribed compression socks, your healthcare team may advise you to walk regularly. This helps prevent DVT symptoms and can reduce or prevent complications.
Surgery
Some people may need surgery to treat DVT.
You may need to have an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter fitted to treat your symptoms. This is a small mesh device placed inside a vein that helps prevent blood clots from developing.
Raise your leg
If you have DVT in your leg, you may be advised to raise it whenever you're resting. This helps relieve pressure in the veins of the calf and stops blood and fluid from pooling there.
When you raise your leg, make sure your foot is higher than your hip. You can do this by placing a cushion under your leg while you're lying down.
Prevention
You can lower your chances of getting DVT by making a few changes to how you live day to day.
Do
- eat a healthy, balanced diet
- stay physically active
- keep to a healthy weight
Don't
- don't smoke
- don't sit still for long stretches at a time
- don't drink a lot of alcohol
- don't cross your legs while sitting
You can find out more about healthy living from your doctor or a nearby health centre.
Preventing DVT if you're going into hospital
If you're due to go into hospital for surgery, your healthcare team will assess your risk of developing DVT.
If you're found to be at risk, you may be given treatment to help prevent it. For example, you might need to wear compression socks or take medicine.
You may need to keep up these treatments even after you leave hospital, since the risk of DVT can continue for some time afterward.
While you're in hospital, try to move around as much as you're able to. Your healthcare team may also give you specific exercises to do.
Preventing DVT if you're going on a long journey
If you're travelling a long distance, or for more than 3 hours, there are steps you can take to help avoid DVT.
You should:
- drink plenty of water
- do some leg exercises, such as flexing your ankles
- take regular short walking breaks
- avoid drinking a lot of alcohol
- wear compression socks
If you've had DVT before, or if you're at risk of it, talk to a healthcare professional before you plan any long-distance travel.
Complications
Deep vein thrombosis can turn serious, because a piece of the clot can break away and travel up to the lungs. When that happens, it's called a pulmonary embolism, and it needs urgent medical treatment since it can be life-threatening.
Even after a DVT has been treated, some people go on to develop lasting symptoms in the affected area, such as pain and swelling. This is known as post-thrombotic syndrome.