Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg. This is a medical emergency and you should seek medical care immediately if you suspect that you have a DVT. David Bloom, a news reporter for NBC died from a complication of a DVT in 2003 at the age of 39. Knowing the risk factors and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis may save your life!
Risk factors
A person who is inactive for an extended period of time is at increased risk of DVT. This can happen during a long airline flight, while wearing a cast, following surgery and even when in the hospital for another condition. Other risk factors include:
* Varicose veins
* Blood clotting disorders
* Family history of DVT or clotting disorders
* Heart disease
* Obesity
* Chronic leg swelling
* Dehydration
* Birth Control Pills containing estrogen
* Hormone replacement therapy
* Pregnancy/recent childbirth
* Smoking
* Age (over 40 years old)
* Trauma
* Recent surgery
The more risk factors a person has, the greater the risk of developing a DVT. But, anyone can develop a DVT, even people without any of these risk factors.
Symptoms
The most common warning signs are calf tenderness, swelling, warmth and/or redness of the leg. However, some people with a DVT have no symptoms or just a very mild discomfort in the leg.
A serious complication of DVT is a pulmonary embolism, which may cause death. This happens when a clot breaks loose from the leg and travels to the lung. Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include:
* Shortness of breath
* Chest pain
* Tightness in chest
* Coughing up blood
Another complication of a DVT is damage to the vein from the blood clot which can result in chronic swelling, pain and discoloration of that leg.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis can be challenging for a physician, especially when symptoms are vague. Leg swelling can be cause by congestive heart failure or venous insufficiency. Calf tenderness could be caused by tendonitis. If a DVT is suspected, a doctor will order tests that can detect a blood clot in the leg. The most accurate for diagnosis is the venogram. A venogram involves injecting dye into the vein and taking pictures to determine if there is a blockage. A less invasive option is a Duplex Ultrasound. Due to its high sensitivity and specificity, Duplex Ultrasound has replaced venography as the most widely used test in evaluation of DVT. Duplex Ultrasonography is safe in pregnancy and for those allergic to contract dyes used in venograms.
Treatment
There are a few options that your doctor may recommend in the treatment of DVT. Anticoagulants, like heparin or coumadin, may be prescribed to thin the blood to prevent accrual or formation of new clots. There are now filters available that can be surgically placed into a large vein to capture the clots. Compression stockings may be used to control swelling in the legs.
Prevention
If you have risk factors for a DVT, consider these tips for reducing the likelihood of developing a blood clot:
* Exercise you legs every 2 to 3 hours when on a long trip. Walk the aisles of a plane or train, and take regular breaks during a car trip.
* Drink plenty of fluids; avoid alcohol and caffeine.
* Wear Compression stockings.
* Take blood thinning medications, if prescribed by your doctor.
* If you are hospitalized, or having surgery, discuss preventative medication with your physician.
Each year, at least 100,000 deaths are attributed to deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms. About 1 in every 1000 adults develop a DVT in a given year. Deep vein throbosis is a common, serious medical condition that all adults should be aware of. Early symptom recognition and diagnosis improves outcomes and saves lives.
Copyright (c) 2009 Dr. Jennifer Feeny
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a telecommunication service that transforms an ordinary phone into a high-speed conduit for data, voice and video. The service is especially available for those who are close enough to a telephone company central office that offers the DSL services. A typical DSL connection allows subscriber to enjoy speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps downlink and 256Kbps. The actual speeds vary according to the proximity of the subscriber to the central office. In addition, DSL services are on at all times, meaning that subscribers don't have to dial each time to access the internet. There are some services that allow users to use the same line for voice and data. There are a variety of DSL technologies but their availability may depend on where one is located as well as individual bandwidth needs. Here are some of them. ?IDSL. This stands for ISDN Digital Subscribers line, and it is a form of DSL that uses ISDN provisioning and positioning, and can co-exist with the current analogue and ISDN services. This service is typically restricted to about 144Kbps upstream and downstream, though it may provide further reach as it not restricted by the same distant limitations. ?ADSL, which stands for Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line. It employs two different transmission speeds, with the downstream speed being (from the provider to the subscriber) being much higher than the upstream speed (from the user to the corporate host). This service is capable of achieving downstream data rates of up to 8Mbps and upstream speeds of up to 1Mbps. ?VDSL. (Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line) the service promises speeds that are even loftier than those offered by ADSL , albeit on much shorter distances. ?RADSL. Stands for Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line, and it adjusts the data transmission rate to match the quality of the phone line. RADSL subscribers usually enjoy the best performance on their telephone lines and can have up to 7Mbps downstream and 1Mbps downstream. ?HDSL/SDSL. (High Data Rate Digital Subscriber Line/ Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line) this one uses two standard phone lines for 1.5Mbps transmission speeds and offer the capability to combine three phones to enjoy about 2.0Mbps speeds. This service is intended as lower cost replacement for dedicated and fractional T-1 lines2. Things are looking up for the DSL services as more people move towards the information based economy. DSL generally is a cost effective as it eliminates the need for expensive infrastructure installations, and it only needs little additional equipment. The speeds are good. DSL is mostly used in the telecommunication industry by network service providers, ISP's, as well as local and public phone companies. Universities and research facilities are also known to use the service. DSL eliminates the problems associated with alternative technologies by using existing telecommunication systems to remove the bottlenecks linked with the last mile between the provider and user. One major disadvantage of DSL is availability, as it is mostly available near the central offices of the service providers, and since the lines use copper wires, they are not compatible with fiber optic lines.
Both Dr. Jennifer Feeny & Robert D. Thomson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dr. Jennifer Feeny has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness. Dr. Jennifer Feeny is a board certified podiatrist in southwest Virginia. For more of what Dr. Feeny is saying, visit her blog, . Dr. Jennifer Feeny's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.
Robert D. Thomson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dog Care, Real Estate and Dental Practice. Jennifer Davis writes on topics such as ">DSL ,. Robert D. Thomson's top article generates over 2240000 views. to your Favourites.