Deep Vein Thrombosis Explained

Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis

How Can Deep Vein Thrombosis Be Prevented?

You can take steps to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

If you’re at risk for DVT or pulmonary embolism (PE), you can help prevent the condition by:

Seeing your doctor for regular checkups.
Taking all medicines your doctor prescribes.
Getting out of bed and moving around as soon as possible after surgery or illness. This lowers your chance of developing a blood clot.
Exercising your lower leg muscles during long trips. This helps prevent a blood clot from forming.

If you’ve had DVT or PE before, you can help prevent future blood clots by following the above steps and:

Taking all medicines your doctor prescribes to prevent or treat blood clots
Following up with your doctor for tests and treatment
Using compression stockings as your doctor directs to prevent swelling in your legs from DVT

Travel Tips

Your risk of developing DVT while traveling is small. The risk increases if the travel time is longer than 4 hours, or if you have other risk factors for DVT.

During long trips, it may help to:

Walk up and down the aisles of the bus, train, or airplane. If traveling by car, stop about every hour and walk around.
Move your legs and flex and stretch your feet to encourage blood flow in your calves.
Wear loose and comfortable clothing.
Drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol.

If you’re at increased risk for DVT, your doctor may recommend wearing compression stockings during travel or taking a blood-thinning medicine before traveling.

Living With Deep Vein Thrombosis

If you’ve had a deep vein blood clot, you’re at greater risk for another one. During treatment and after, it’s important to:

Take steps to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Check your legs for signs and symptoms of DVT. These include swollen areas, pain or tenderness, increased warmth in swollen or painful areas, or red or discolored skin on the legs.
Contact your doctor right away if you have signs and symptoms of DVT.

Ongoing Health Care Needs

Medicines that thin your blood and prevent blood clots are used to treat DVT. These medicines can thin your blood too much and cause bleeding (sometimes inside the body). This side effect can be life threatening.

Bleeding may occur in the digestive system or the brain. Signs and symptoms of bleeding in the digestive system include:

Bright red vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
Bright red blood in your stools or black, tarry stools
Pain in your abdomen

Signs and symptoms of bleeding in the brain include:

Severe pain in your head
Sudden changes in your vision
Sudden loss of movement in your arms or legs
Memory loss or confusion

If you have any of these signs or symptoms, get treatment right away.

You also should seek treatment right away if you have a lot of bleeding after a fall or injury. This could be a sign that your DVT medicines have thinned your blood too much.

Talk to your doctor before taking any medicines other than your DVT medicines. This includes over-the-counter medicines. Aspirin, for example, also can thin your blood. Taking two medicines that thin your blood may raise your risk for bleeding.

Ask your doctor about how your diet affects these medicines. Foods that contain vitamin K can change how warfarin (a blood-thinning medicine used to treat DVT) works. Vitamin K is found in green, leafy vegetables and some oils, like canola and soybean oil. Your doctor can help you plan a balanced and healthy diet.

Discuss with your doctor whether drinking alcohol will interfere with your medicines. Your doctor can tell you what amount of alcohol is safe for you.

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