Deep Vein Thrombosis & Pulmonary Embolism: Risk Factors and Signs and Symptoms

Deep vein thrombosis is the development of the blood clot, called thrombus, in deep leg veins. It is an extremely serious condition which can cause permanent harm to the leg, called post-thrombotic condition, or life-threating pulmonary embolism. In the US alone, 500,000 new cases are known to be diagnosed every year. The deep veins which lie near the middle of the legs are surrounded by strong muscles which contract and force the deoxygenated blood back into the heart and lungs. One-way valves stop the blood’s back-flow between the contractions. When circulation of blood slows down owing to illness, inactivity or injury, blood can amass or "pool," that provides a perfect setting for clots formation.

We can define pulmonary embolism or PE as sudden blockage in the lung artery. This blockage is caused usually by blood clot which travels to the lungs from a vein inside the leg. It occurs equally in women and men. Its risk increases with the age.

Certain hereditary condition, like the factor V Leiden, increases the PE and blood clot symptoms and its risks. Your risks for PE are high if you’ve DVT or Deep vein thrombosis or the past of DVT. In Deep vein thrombosis, blood clots form inside the deeper veins of body—mostly in the legs. The clots can break up free, travel through bloodstream to lungs, and then block any artery. Your risks for PE are high also if you had the condition earlier. Other Pulmonary Embolism Risk Factors include:

1. ·         Being bedridden or not capable to move around too much
2. ·         Breaking a bone or having surgery (the risk goes higher in the weeks subsequent to the injury
3. ·         Smoking
4. ·         Having certain conditions or diseases, such as paralysis, a stroke or high blood pressure.

People who have been recently treated for cancer now or who have central venous catheter more likely are to develop DVT that increases their risks for PE. The central venous catheter tends to be a tube placed inside a vein to permit easy access to bloodstream for medical treatments.

What Are the Symptoms of PE and DVT?

The symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis pulmonary embolism include unexplained conciseness of breath, problem in breathing, coughing, chest pain, or coughing up the blood. Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) may also suggest that you’ve PE.

At times the signs and symptoms tend to be related to only DVT. These consist of swelling of the legs or along the vein in leg, tenderness or pain in the legs, a feeling of too much warmth in area of the legs which are tender or swollen, and discolored or red skin on affected leg. Visit your doctor straight away if you’ve any symptoms or signs of DVT or PE. It's possible to have just PE and not suffer from any symptoms or signs.

Other PE Signs and Symptoms

A few people who have pulmonary embolism have feeling of dread or anxiety, fainting or light-headedness, sweating, rapid breathing, or increased heart rate.