If you’ve ever traveled by air, you’ve probably heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. DVT most often appears in the thigh or lower leg, but can appear in other parts of the body.
First things first: what is a blood clot? When the blood thickens and clumps together, that is a blood clot. Blood clots can form in any vein, but those that form in veins near the skin’s surface are generally not dangerous. A blood clot that occurs in a deep vein can break off from the vein wall and travel through the bloodstream. (A loose blood clot is called an embolus.)
If the embolus travels to the lungs and blocks blood flow, it causes pulmonary embolism (PE) — a serious condition that can damage the lungs and other organs. It can be fatal.
Blood clots that form in the thigh are more likely to break off and cause pulmonary embolism than blood clots that form in the lower leg or in other parts of the body.
What causes deep vein thrombosis?
- Damage to a vein’s inner lining. Damage may be caused by injury, inflammation, or an immune system response.
- Slow blood flow. Lack of motion can lead to slowed blood flow — which is why travelers are often at risk for DVT.
- Inherited conditions that make your blood thicker or more likely to clot.
Symptoms of DVT include swelling in the leg or along a vein in the leg; pain or tenderness in the leg that may only occur when standing or walking; increased warmth in the area of the leg that is affected; red or discolored skin on the leg. Approximately fifty percent of all people with DVT experience symptoms.
Some people don’t realize they have DVT until they experience signs of a pulmonary embolism. Symptoms include unexplained shortness of breath; pain with deep breathing; coughing up blood; rapid breathing; a rapid heartbeat.