When you have blood clots in the deeper veins in your legs or other parts of your body, this is known as DVT or deep vein thrombosis. While not everyone experiences discomfort or symptoms, it’s still important to check for signs of this condition. DVT can lead to a potentially deadly complication known as pulmonary embolism, which happens when one or more blood clots break apart and make their way to the lungs. Pulmonary embolism is a dangerous medical emergency requiring immediate care.
How To Check Yourself at Home
How do you know if you might have DVT? While a doctor can formally diagnose this condition, doing a self evaluation can help you determine if you might have it. Self evaluations involve seeing if you have one or more symptoms of DVT. Although some people have no symptoms with this condition, others might experience mild or severe symptoms. These symptoms often occur where the blood clots are, such as in your leg.
Symptoms to Look Out For
What types of symptoms can DVT cause that you might notice at home? When you check for signs of this condition on your own, look for these symptoms:
Soreness in your calf that spreads to nearby areas, or pain that occurs in your leg or another affected part of your body
Swollen leg, but you might have swelling in both legs since this can happen in rare cases
Discolored or reddish skin in the affected area
Warm skin in the affected area
You’ll need to receive emergency care if you have any symptoms of pulmonary embolism. These may include breathing problems, rapid pulse, and dizziness that occurs suddenly.
Can DVT Be Treated at Home?
There are no vein treatments you can do at home that will effectively and safely treat DVT. In order to lower the risk of suffering from complications and ensure that blood clots don’t get bigger, you’ll need medical care. These vein procedures or treatments can reduce the risk of having clots break into smaller pieces while also preventing additional clots from developing deep in your veins. Seeing a vein physician means you’ll be able to have this condition diagnosed and properly treated. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t wait long to seek medical care if you suspect that you have DVT.
Precautions To Take During Covid When Scheduling an Appointment
You don’t have to delay medical care for DVT if you’re concerned about Covid exposure during the pandemic. Medical offices undergo frequent and thorough cleaning in order to eliminate as many germs as possible, including COVID-19. There are also other ways to protect yourself from this virus at your appointment, such as washing your hands if you use the restroom, not touching your nose or other parts of your face, using hand sanitizer, and wearing a mask.
