Early detection and treatment of DVT can prevent complications
A thrombus is a blood clot that develops in your heart or a blood vessel. When thrombosis occurs in one of the large veins buried deep in your body, you have a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a form of peripheral vascular disease. DVT typically forms in the thigh and lower leg but can also form in the arm and pelvis.
Over time, DVT can cause a condition known as post-thrombotic syndrome, in which the DVT damages blood vessels and causes long-term swelling, pain, ulcers and physical disability.
An untreated DVT can break off and travel through the bloodstream and enter the lungs. If the clot is large enough, it can prevent blood from reaching the lungs, cause dangerously low oxygen levels and can even be fatal.
Knowing the symptoms and risk factors of DVT can help you identify and get treatment for these blood clots early.
DVT symptoms
DVT may not cause noticeable symptoms. If you experience symptoms, they affect the area near the leg vein, arm or other area with the blood clot. Symptoms of DVT include:
- Pain
- Redness
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Severe headache
When DVT moves to the lungs, symptoms may include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Blood when you cough
What causes deep vein thrombosis?
Anything that slows or changes your blood flow can cause blood to clot and cause a DVT to form. Reasons your blood may clot include:
- Being on long-term bed rest
- Giving birth
- Having surgery
- Sitting in the same position for long periods
- Using estrogen or birth control pills
- Smoking or using tobacco products
Deep vein thrombosis risk factors
DVT affects people of all ages, ethnicities and socioeconomic status. You may be at higher risk due to:
- Age: Most cases occur in adults after age 60.
- Limited movement: This often occurs with injury, paralysis, prolonged bed rest or air travel.
- Certain medical conditions: Heart disease, lung disease, cancer, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), and lupus are among the medical conditions that increase your risk of blood clots.
- Family history: You may inherit a predisposition for blood clots and DVT.
- Injury or surgery: Fractures or surgeries involving the hip, knee or pelvis can cause blood clots.
- Smoking: Tobacco smoke causes blood cells to become sticky and form clots. It also damages blood vessels and increases the formation of blood clots.
Detecting and diagnosing DVT
Diagnosing DVT starts with a discussion of your medical history and a physical exam. Your provider will ask about pain, swelling and other symptoms you’ve experienced, and they may order one or more of the following diagnostic tests:
Blood test
Blood tests can demonstrate if your blood produces clots and measure for specific protein levels or genetic markers that might increase your risk for clotting.
Imaging test
Imaging tests like venography and duplex ultrasounds allow doctors to see through deep veins and arteries. CT scans can also be helpful in certain situations.
DVT treatment
Blood thinners
Blood thinners, also known as anticoagulants, are designed to prevent blood clots from forming.
Clot busters
Clot busters work to dissolve blood clots that have already formed.
Compression socks
Compression socks apply pressure to your lower legs, helping to maintain blood flow and reduce discomfort and swelling.
Surgery and procedures
Surgical procedures include:
- Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy is a procedure in which a thin, flexible tube is used to help break up, dissolve or suck out a blood clot.
- Surgical venous thrombectomy is a more invasive surgical procedure used to grab and remove the blood clot.
- An inferior vena cava filter is an implanted device to help capture or filter blood clots before they can reach the heart or lungs.
After treatment, your vascular surgeon will monitor you to reduce the chances that you’ll develop another DVT. You can help prevent another blood clot by:
- Attending all your follow-up visits and having follow-up blood tests and ultrasound scans
- Taking medications as directed
- Wearing compression stockings if your provider recommends doing so
Find a location near you
Our vascular specialists are available at Baylor Scott & White locations throughout North and Central Texas, so you can find a location close to home that makes attending follow-up visits easy and convenient.
AccentCare - Fort Worth
3880 Hulen St , Fort Worth, TX, 76107
AccentCare Home Health of Brenham
526 W Main St , Brenham, TX, 77833
AccentCare Home Health of College Station
119 Medical Park Lane Ste C, Huntsville, TX, 77340
AccentCare Home Health of College Station
1605 Rock Prairie Rd Ste 206, College Station, TX, 77845
AccentCare Home Health Of Denton
225 W. Mulberry St. Ste A, Denton, TX, 76201
AccentCare Home Health Of Desoto
911 York Drive Ste 203, DeSoto, TX, 75115
AccentCare Home Health Of Fort Worth (Arlington)
700 Highlander Blvd Ste 205, Arlington, TX, 76015
AccentCare Home Health of Huntsville
122 Medical Park Lane B , Huntsville, TX, 77340
AccentCare Home Health of Marble Falls
1100 Mission Hills Dr Ste 100, Marble Falls, TX, 78654
AccentCare Home Health Of McKinney
6800 Weiskopf Ave Ste 100, McKinney, TX, 75070
AccentCare Home Health Of Taylor (Hutto)
567 Chris Kelley Blvd Ste 201, Hutto, TX, 78634
AccentCare Home Health Of Temple
3809 S General Bruce Dr Ste 105B, Temple, TX, 76502
AccentCare Home Health Of Waco
8300 Central Park Dr Ste A, Waco, TX, 76712
AdventHealth Central Texas
2201 S Clear Creek Rd , Killeen, TX, 76549
Andrews Women's Hospital at Baylor Scott & White - Fort Worth
1400 8th Ave , Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Baylor Scott & White - Hillcrest Infectious Disease Clinic
50 Hillcrest Medical Blvd MOB1, Ste 104, Waco, TX, 76712
Baylor Scott & White - Plano Brain and Spine Center
4708 Alliance Blvd Pavilion I, Ste 810, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White - Texas Brain and Spine Institute
900 Scott and White Dr , College Station, TX, 77845
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White - Texas Brain and Spine Institute - Huntsville
122 Medical Park Ln Ste A, Huntsville, TX, 77340
Baylor Scott & White - The Brenham Clinic
600 N Park St , Brenham, TX, 77833
- Monday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White 65+ Clinic
4716 Alliance Blvd Ste 500, Plano, TX, 75093
- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Cardiac Imaging Specialists
1100 Allied Dr , Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Cardiovascular and Imaging Consultants
4708 Alliance Blvd Ste 450, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Digestive Care
3434 Swiss Ave Ste 200, Dallas, TX, 75204
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart and Lung Disease Center - Fort Worth
1420 8th Ave Ste 103, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Anna
450 N Standridge Blvd , Anna, TX, 75409
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Decatur
2401 S FM 51 Ste 200, Decatur, TX, 76234
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Denton
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Idabel, OK
4 SE Avenue A , Idabel, OK, 74745
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Keller (Satellite)
3124 N Tarrant Pkwy Ste 204, Keller, TX, 76177
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - McKinney (Satellite)
5236 W University Dr Ste 4450, McKinney, TX, 75482
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Mt Pleasant (Satellite)
1011 N Jefferson Ave , Mt Pleasant, TX, 75455
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Paris
875 S Collegiate Dr , Paris, TX, 75462
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Plano
4716 Dexter Dr Ste 100, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Sherman Sycamore (Satellite)
203 E Sycamore St , Sherman, TX, 75090
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Sulphur Springs
601 Airport Rd Ste 110, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75482
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care – Sherman Highland (Satellite)
300 N Highland Ave , Sherman, TX, 75092
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Irving
2001 N MacArthur Blvd Bldg 1, Ste 360, Irving, TX, 75061
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Abilene
1219 E South 11th St Ste B2, Abilene, TX, 79602
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Amarillo
1901 Medi Park Dr Ste 2051, Amarillo, TX, 79106
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Dallas
3410 Worth St Ste 250, Dallas, TX, 75246
- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Longview
906 Judson Rd , Longview, TX, 75601
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Lubbock
3711 22nd St Ste B, Lubbock, TX, 79410
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Midland/Odessa
420 E 6th St Ste 102, Odessa, TX, 79761
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Tyler
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Waxahachie
2360 N Interstate 35E MOB 2, Ste 310, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Specialists - Fort Worth
1250 8th Ave Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Lung Disease Specialists - Dallas
3410 Worth St Ste 250, Dallas, TX, 75246
- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center - Fort Worth
1400 8th Ave , Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Baylor Scott & White Ambulatory Endoscopy Center
4708 Alliance Blvd Pavilion I, Ste 210, Plano, TX, 75093
- Monday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Friday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm