Varicose Veins / Vascular

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)? Is it preventable?

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)? Is it preventable?
by admin
19th May 2019
2 minutes read

Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT is a blood clot that occurs in a blood vessel. It usually develops due to three main reasons:

 

  • Unhealthy binge habits such as regular consumption of processed foods or chain smoking.  
  • Sitting or standing in the same position for long periods of time.
  • Medical condition which causes the blood to clot easier than others. (One such condition is the “Factor V Leiden” which causes blood to clot very easily.  It arises due to mutation of one of the clotting factors in blood called factor V.)

 

1.  MOVEMENT: As mentioned earlier, one of the causes of DVT, is sitting or standing in the same position for a very long time. It causes the muscles around the vein to relax and as a result of this, the “Red-Blood Cells” or “RBC” clump together and form a clot. One way to counteract this is to get up and move around for a few minutes at a time so to increase the blood flow.

 

2. STAYING HYDRATED AND PROPER INTAKE OF MEDICATION (IF ANY): Fluids help a lot in preventing DVT. Lack of water in the body reduces the flow of blood and can lead to ‘clot’ formation. Hence, staying hydrated is very important. Individuals with medical conditions that frequently cause the blood to clot, are prescribed blood thinners. Regular intake of the prescribed  medicine is also very important.

 

3. FOLLOW A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: Following a nutritional and healthy diet, drinking fluids regularly and exercising daily comprises of a healthy lifestyle which increase the blood to circulate in the body. A healthy lifestyle also includes:

  • Quitting unhealthy habits such as smoking: Smoking causes the build up of tar in one’s blood vessels and thus narrows the passage for blood to flow.
  • Reducing processed and high calorie food in one’s diet: This helps reduce the quantity of cholesterol which can clump in the blood vessels, thereby reducing the chances of forming blood clots.   

 

4. COMPRESSION STOCKINGS: They are worn on the legs and work by applying pressure on the legs to help the blood to move up, against gravity, in the veins. This prevents the blood from pooling.

 

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