THROMBOSIS
&
PULLMONARY EMBOLISMS
The formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel
that obstructs the flow of blood through the circulatory system
DVT
Deep Vein Thrombosis affects the legs or the pelvis
& can be life threatening if not taken care of immediately
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YOU ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO HAVING DVT
- After a long flight during which you didn't walk &/or stretch your legs
- If you had Cellulitis on one or both legs
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PREP FOR TRIPS
- Wear light, loose-fitting, comfortable clothing
- Avoid anything that could restrict your circulation
- Drink lots of water
- Ask your doctor if you need to take any extra medication or a different medication during
your trip.
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WHEN FLYING
- On a long flight, skip the alcohol & sleeping pills because you need to stay awake enough to keep your muscles moving for good blood circulation
- Get up and walk around every hour or two
- When you're sitting, change your position often
- Don't cross your legs, since that can weaken blood flow
- Whenever you're stuck in your seat, try to regularly move your feet & calf muscles
1. Put your feet flat on the floor & raise your toes in the air while keeping your heels on the ground - hold for 3 seconds
2. Then do the reverse, plant your toes, raise your heels & hold for 3 seconds - Lift your foot off the floor
1. Make circles in the air with your toes - 15 seconds in one direction then the other direction
2. Do the same thing with the other foot or do both feet at the same time - More airplane exerises available on Airline Exercises
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AT HOME OR THE OFFICE
- Don't spend the day at your desk
- Set the reminder on your computer or phone for 1 to 2 hours
- When it goes off, get up & walk for a few minutes & then reset the alarm
- You can use the timer to remind you to stretch your legs &feet & move them around while
you sit, too
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SYMPTOMS OF DVT
If you have any of the DVT symptoms below
especially if they occur suddenly
call your doctor right away
- Swelling in one or both legs
- Pain or tenderness in one or both legs, which may occur only while standing or walking
- Warmth in the skin of the affected leg
- Red or discolored skin in the affected leg
- Visible surface veins
- Leg fatigue
Half of all DVT cases cause no symptoms
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DIAGNOSING DVT
The doctor will ask about your health, medical history & symptoms
& give you a physical exam
DVT symptoms are shared by many other conditions so you may need
one or more special tests to rule out other problems or to confirm a diagnosis
BLOOD TEST
- The D-Dimer blood test for DVT is the 1st test
- Only if the results are above the norm will the doctor do the next test
DUPLEX ULTRASOUND
Ultrasound tests are painless & noninvasive & require no radiation
During the test
- High-frequency sound waves bounce off the inside of your body producing images of your
blood vessels - A radiologist spreads warm gel on your skin & then moves an ultrasound wand over the area
- The wand sends sound waves into your body & then sends the echoing waves to a computer which produces images of your vessels & sometimes the blood clots
This test is less sensitive in finding blood clots
that are very deep inside the body such as in the pelvis
VENOGRAPHY
This test involves taking a special X-ray
that allows your doctor to see the anatomy of your veins
Sometimes it also allows the doctor to see a clot
During the test
- The doctor injects a radioactive dye into a vein on the top of your foot
- This highlights the veins on the X-ray
- Although accurate, this test carries a slight risk of increasing the chances of
additional blood clots.
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PULMONARY EMBOLISM
If a blood clot breaks free and travels to your lungs
it's called a pulmonary embolism & it can be fatal
Pulmonary embolism may not cause symptoms
but if you ever have sudden cough that brings up
- Blood
- Sharp chest pain
- Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
- Severe dizziness
If you experience these symptoms
Call 911 Or go to an emergency room immediately
If Hatzolah is available where you live
call them after you have called 911
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Cellulitis
which can cause DVT
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Airline Exercises
To diminish your chances of contracting DVT
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Return to Health Challenges Directory
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