What is it?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein located deep inside your body. A Deep vein blood clots typically form in your thigh or lower leg, but they can also develop in other areas of your body. DVT occurs most commonly in people who are over 50 years in age. People who are overweight are at a higher risk of developing this.
What are the symptoms?
- Skin redness, warmth and swelling around the affected area (including the leg or pelvis). Sometimes the skin looks discolored and red, or dark patches appear.
- Pain and tenderness near the clot site. This might develop in only one leg or in both and spread up the legs from the clot location.
- Difficulty walking or moving normally.
- Sometimes scaling or ulcers form in the affected part of the body.
What to expect?
If you are diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis and are treated for this condition you should seek immediate medical help if:
- You have difficulty breathing.
- Have chest pain upon breathing.