Deep Venous Thrombosis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein of the body. The deep veins in the legs, thighs, and hips are the most common sites for DVT. Having certain conditions such as infections, cancer, obesity, or heart failure puts you at risk for DVT. Taking medicines that contain estrogen (hormone) or being pregnant may also cause clots to form. Having a major surgery or injury may also lead to this condition. Increasing age over 50, being inactive for a long time, and smoking are other risk factors for DVT. With DVT, you can get a very bad condition called pulmonary embolism. This is when part of the clot breaks off and travels to block blood flow to the lungs.
  
  
• DVT may cause swelling, redness, and pain or tenderness in your hips, thighs, or legs. Your caregiver may use ultrasound and blood tests to learn more about your condition. You may need treatment if you have DVT, or preventive treatment if you are at risk for it. Treatment includes medicines to keep new clots from forming and stop the clots you have from getting bigger. You may need emergency medicine to break apart clots blocking blood to a vital organ. Compression stockings, pneumatic boots, or vena cava filters may also be used to treat or prevent DVT. Finding and treating DVT as soon as possible may relieve your symptoms and prevent heart or lung problems.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Take your medicine as directed:

Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.

• Blood thinners: Blood thinners are medicines that help prevent blood clots from forming. Clots can cause strokes, heart attacks, and death. Blood thinners make it more likely for you to bleed or bruise. If you are taking a blood thinner:
  
  
  • Watch for bleeding from your gums or nose. Watch for blood in your urine and bowel movements. Use a soft washcloth on your skin and a soft toothbrush on your teeth. This can keep your skin and gums from bleeding. If you shave, use an electric shaver. Do not play contact sports, such as football.
    
    
  • Be aware of what medicines you take. Many medicines cannot be used when taking medicine to thin your blood. Tell your dentist and other caregivers that you take blood-thinning medicine. Wear or carry medical alert information that says you are taking this medicine.
    
    
  • Take this medicine exactly as your caregiver tells you. Tell your caregiver right away if you forget to take the medicine, or if you take too much. You may need to have regular blood tests while on this medicine. Your caregiver uses these tests to decide how much medicine is right for you.
    
    
  • Talk to your caregiver about your diet. This medicine works best when you eat about the same amount of vitamin K every day. Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables and other foods, such as cooked peas and kiwifruit.
  Warfarin: Warfarin is a type of medicine that helps prevent clots from forming in the blood. Clots can cause strokes, heart attacks, and death. Using warfarin may cause you to bleed or bruise more easily. If you are taking warfarin:
  
  
  • Watch for bleeding from your gums or nose. Watch for blood in your urine and bowel movements. Use a soft washcloth on your skin, and a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth. Doing this can keep your skin and gums from bleeding. If you shave, use an electric shaver. Do not play contact sports.
    
    
  • Many medicines cannot be used when taking warfarin. Talk to your caregiver about all of the other medicines that you use. Tell your dentist and other caregivers that you take warfarin. Wear a bracelet or necklace that says you are taking this medicine.
    
    
  • You will need to have regular blood tests while taking warfarin. Your caregiver uses these tests to decide how much medicine is right for you to take. Take warfarin exactly how your caregiver tells you to. Tell your caregiver right away if you forget to take the medicine, or if you take too much.
    
    
  • Talk to your caregiver about your diet. Warfarin works best when you eat about the same amount of Vitamin K every day. Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables and certain other foods.
  
  
• Pain medicine: You may need medicine to take away or decrease pain.
  
  
  • Learn how to take your medicine. Ask what medicine and how much you should take. Be sure you know how, when, and how often to take it.
    
    
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling someone when you get out of bed or if you need help.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

• When taking medicine to prevent blood clots, you will need to have your blood tested regularly. Ask your caregiver when to return to have blood tests.
  
  

Compression stockings:

Your caregiver may order compression stockings for you to wear. These are tight elastic stockings that put pressure on your lower legs. The pressure is highest near the toe and decreases as it goes towards the thighs. Wearing pressure stockings help push blood back up to the heart and keeps clots from forming. Ask your caregiver for more information on using compression stockings.

Exercise and diet:

Exercising and eating healthy foods will give you more energy and prevent weight gain. Eat a variety of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, low-fat dairy products, and fish. Ask your caregiver what exercises you can do and if you need to be on a special diet.

Do not smoke:

Smoking causes lung cancer and other long-term lung diseases. It increases your risk of many cancer types. Smoking also increases your risk of blood vessel disease, heart attack, and vision disorders. Not smoking may help prevent such symptoms as headaches and dizziness for yourself and those around you. Smokers have shorter lifespans than nonsmokers.

For more information:

Contact any of the following:

• American Academy of Family Physicians
  11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway
  Leawood , KS 66211-2680
  Phone: 1- 913 - 906-6000
  Phone: 1- 800 - 274-2237
  Web Address: http://www.aafp.org
  

• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
  Health Information Center
  P.O. Box 30105
  Bethesda , MD 20824-0105
  Phone: 1- 301 - 592-8573
  Web Address: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/infoctr/index.htm
  

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• The skin on any part of your legs or hips turns purple in color.
  
  
• You have questions about your medicines or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You lose consciousness (faint).
  
  
• You feel that your heart is beating very fast.
  
  
• You have convulsions (seizures) or migraines (very bad headaches).
  
  
• You have slurred speech, increased sleepiness, or problems seeing, talking, thinking, or remembering.
  
  
• You have weakness or cannot move your arm or leg on one side of your body.
  
  
• Your arm or leg feels warm, tender, and painful. It may look swollen and red.
  
  
• You have chest pain or trouble breathing that is getting worse over time.
  
  
• You suddenly feel lightheaded and have trouble breathing.
  
  
• You have new and sudden chest pain. You may have more pain when you take deep breaths or cough. You may cough up blood.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Deep Venous Thrombosis (Discharge Care)