Are you DVT aware?
When it comes to blood clots, how aware are you? Did you know, say, that in Ireland 4,000 people die from venous thromboembolism every single year? Did you know that approximately 1,900 of these deaths are preventable?
With blood clots, it is absolutely essential that we understand the signs and symptoms so we can act quickly if we notice them in ourselves or a loved one.
“Anyone can get a blood clot but there are certain conditions which can make you more likely to get a clot. These include conditions where the blood itself is more thickened, such as pregnancy or being on an oral contraceptive pill containing oestrogen, having cancer and dehydration. In addition, conditions which result in trauma or injury to veins such as surgery or broken bones,” says Dr Tomas Breslin, a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at The Mater Hospital in Dublin.
“Immobility, not moving around and not moving your legs particularly, is also a very significant risk factor. This is one of the major reasons why people get clots when they are laid up in hospital due to being unwell… This is the same reason why people get clots on long haul flights or even long car or train journeys as they sit with their legs bent which kinks the veins and stops blood flowing through them.”
Being older, overweight and smoking also increases your likelihood of developing a clot. So what are the essential symptoms that we should be aware of?
“The symptoms of a clot in a deep vein in the leg are pain, swelling and tenderness in the calf muscle at the back of the leg and results in the swelling of the whole leg. If the clot travels to the lungs it is called a PE (Pulmonary Embolism) which can result in a person feeling short of breath with difficulty breathing and sometimes having pain in the lung which can be worse on breathing deeply. And less commonly, coughing up blood,” says Dr Breslin.
However, Dr Breslin notes, sometimes the symptoms can be “non-specific” and you can simply feel “fatigued and unwell.”
“You should seek help immediately, particularly if you feel short of breath or very unwell. Clots in the lungs can be fatal in a small number of people if left untreated.”
The good news is that, contrary to popular belief, once a clot is treated, the risk of fatality becomes rare.
“Most people are very anxious when they get a diagnosis of a clot as they may have googled or heard stories about people dying from clots. However, it is crucial for all doctors and patients to understand that once the clot is treated, the risk of death or anything bad happening is very rare…” says Dr Breslin.
Prevention is key and thankfully there are a lot of things that you can do to lower your risk.
“Patients and the public in general can do a lot themselves in helping to prevent clots developing by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. By keeping active, avoiding smoking and avoiding becoming overweight and being immobile. In addition on long haul flights people should keep well hydrated by avoiding alcohol, drinking adequate water, moving the legs and getting up and walking around. This is particularly the case if you have another risk factor for clots such as pregnancy or the contraceptive pill, smoking or are overweight,” says Dr Breslin.
“Also it is crucial for those at risk to be aware of the symptoms of clots as described above so that if they do develop a clot they can seek help early and prevent a potentially worse outcome.”
For more information about blood clots log on to www.thombosisireland.ie