Red Alert!… Deep Vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis is considered to be a serious illness due to the pulmonary embolism that can incur. Considered to be a hospital emergency, it causes more deaths in Europe that AIDS, car accidents and breast and prostate cancer combined.

Deep vein thrombosis happens when a thrombus is produced in the deep vessels of the legs either due to an injury or due to an increase in the thickness of the blood. When the thrombus moves to the lung, it causes a pulmonary embolism, which would be less likely to happen if it is treated early.

The main symptoms are, sudden pain and inflammation in the calf and if the thrombus moves to the lung, acute respiratory failure or shortness of breath without an apparent reason.

People that are more susceptible to suffering from it are:

• Bed-ridden patients.
• Patients that have recently undergone an operation or that have bone fractures.
• Cancer patients.
• Pregnant women.
• Women that take contraceptive pills.
• People that suffer from varicose veins.

Other causes that can trigger a deep vein thrombosis and a pulmonary embolism are:

• Long airplane trips.
• Thrombotic diseases.
• Etc. 

Preventive measures

• Maintain a healthy life.
• People that are bed ridden – use antithrombotic medications such as heparin.
• People that suffer from varicose veins – use compression stockings.
• People that take contraceptive pills or replacement therapy due to menopause or ovarian surgery – Use contraceptives that have low levels of oestrogen or that only have progesterone, and if there is a family or personal history of issues with its use, then not take them.
• Pregnant women – Monitor legs during the pregnancy and in postpartum.
• In long airplane trips:

1. Move frequently.
2. Keep hydrated.
3. Don’t wear tight clothing (especially at the waist and legs).

The main method of diagnostic is an ultrasound.

Chronic treatment consists of anticoagulants, mainly orally and with continuous monitoring, although the latest medications on the market have improved dramatically the quality of life of patients.

We hope that governments would facilitate them to everyone that needs them.

Dr. J. Hurtado Martínez
Medical Director of HealthSalus