Understanding DVTs This Holiday SeasonArticle by: Jennifer Clark, PA-C, MPAS

Published in the Lynn Haven Ledger, December 2011

Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go! The holiday season is here and for most everyone that means some sort of travel; whether you yourself will be making a trip, or loved

ones are coming to visit you. Knowing this, it is very important to get the word out about DVTs and how to prevent them. As you read this you may be wondering, what is a DVT? A DVT, or Deep Vein Thrombosis, is a blood clot that forms in the deep veins in the body, most commonly in the legs. DVTs affect over 2 million Americans a year, and of that 2 million, over 600,000 suffer a life threatening complication called a pulmonary embolism (PE). A pulmonary embolism occurs when a piece of the blood clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs. This can be a life-threatening condition with approximately 300,000 related deaths a year which is more than both breast cancer and AIDS combined.

DVTs can happen to anyone, but certain things can make people more prone to developing blood clots. The following is a list of some of the most common risk factors for developing a DVT:

• Immobility• Recent surgery• Obesity• Dehydration• Bleeding disorder/Family history of blood clots• Cancer• Pregnancy• Hormone replacement therapy/birth control pills• Recent traumatic injury

By understanding these risk factors you can be more proactive in preventing the development of a DVT. If you are traveling over the holidays make sure you make frequent stops if you are driving or get up and walk the aisle if you are flying for several hours. If possible elevate your legs. Stay hydrated with water and/or liquids with electrolytes. When traveling invest in a pair of knee high compression hose to wear during your trip, this will help improve the circulation in your legs which can help prevent a DVT.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a DVT can be difficult at times, sometimes people can be relatively asymptomatic, or perhaps even attribute the symptoms they do experience to something else such as a skin infection or muscle strain. Most commonly we see that DVTs cause pain, swelling, redness and warmth the affected limb. If you experience any of these symptoms it is important to have further evaluation. For more information on DVTs you can go to www.preventdvt.org. This is a very useful website that has a tool you can use to assess your risk for developing a DVT. I hope you share this useful information with your family and friends and I wish you the very best holiday season filled with many blessings, love, and laughter.