Blood clots in the legs are medically known as a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. DVTs are a serious medical issue which affect tens of thousands of people in America each year. It is estimated that up to 50,000 people in America will die each year due to complications from leg blood clots. Typically, these deaths are caused when a blood clot travels from its origin in the leg, to the lungs. Once in the lung, a clot will block the ability of oxygen to get into your bloodstream. This condition is known as a pulmonary embolism. If a large enough portion of the lung as effected, it can lead to death.
Because of the significant risk, various treatments have been developed by doctors to treat leg blood clots. Before discussing the details of some of these treatments, let’s take a quick look at some of the symptoms associated with leg blood clots.
The most common symptoms associated with a blood clot in the leg are; pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling in the affected leg. This happens because the clot blocks the ability of blood to travel through your veins properly. If you experience any of these symptoms, and your doctor determines that you may have a deep vein thrombosis, appropriate treatment is necessary to minimize your risk of complications.
The primary goal in treatment of the deep vein thrombosis is to prevent that blood clot from traveling to your lungs and causing a pulmonary embolism. Secondarily, there are treatments available which can lower your risk of developing a leg blood clot, especially if you are at high risk for getting one.
The primary leg blood clot treatment involves anticoagulation of your blood. These are medications which are more commonly known as blood thinners. It is important to note that a blood thinner does not actually thin your blood, rather it simply prevents the blood from forming a clot. These medications do this by inhibiting various chemical pathways which lead to the coagulation and clotting of your blood.
The most commonly used anticoagulant is a medication known as heparin. There are many different types of heparin. The choice of which one to use will be made by your doctor. Most types of heparin are given either by an injection, or by a needle directly into the veins.
Heparin is considered a first-line treatment, and is not appropriate for use over the long term. At the same time a person is begun on heparin therapy, they will also be given another anticoagulant known as warfarin, or Coumadin. Warfarin is a pill which you will need to take every day for up to three months if you have an active deep vein thrombosis. People who have a long history of developing leg blood clots may need to be treated with warfarin indefinitely. Warfarin can help reduce the incidence of developing a new leg blood clot in the future.
In in severe cases of a deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, more aggressive medications must be used to break up the clot. These medications are known as thrombolytics. They function to actively dissolve a clot which has already formed. The use of these medications can be somewhat risky, as a person given thrombolytics runs the risk of bleeding internally. Internal bleeding can be as serious as a pulmonary embolism. Because of this, thrombolytics are reserved for people with severe cases of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism who are in immediate risk of death.
Leg blood clot treatment can also be preventative in nature. In some people, your doctor may choose to insert a small filter-like device into the primary vein which is responsible for filling your heart. This vein is known as the inferior vena cava. Not surprisingly, the filter is known as an inferior vena caval filter. The function of this filter is to trap any blood clots which may have formed in your legs and are traveling up to your heart and into your lungs. These filters are often used in people who are unable to take anticoagulant medications such as warfarin.
Leg blood clot treatments can be quite complicated. Many of these treatments mentioned have significant side effects and risk factors involved in using them. You must work closely with your doctor to determine which treatment for a like blood clot may be most appropriate for you. Be sure to ask as many questions as you need in order to be comfortable with the treatment you have chosen.
