DVT Awareness Month

BY Nurse Diane

My brother dated this girl when he was in college.  She lived here in town, and he went away to college, so when he came home If I wanted to see him, I would usually go to her home and spend time with her family.   Her mother was also a very good cook, which made spending time there so much better.  Not long after my brother was killed in a car accident, her family moved a few hours away, and I had moved there too when I started college.  I still would go by and visit with them (and have supper) every chance I got.  They were like my second family.  When my son was born, we even called her grandma.  A few weeks after he was born, we moved back to my home town, and while I still went to visit, it was less frequent.  She was a young woman, well, younger than my own mother.  That was why I was shocked to hear that she suddenly passed away.  She spent alot of time at home, just sitting and not moving around much.  She developed a Deep Vein Thrombosis, a blood clot that began to move and it went to her heart and killed her.  

DVT is a common medical problem. It is estimated that 2 million people in the United States develop a DVT every year -- many of them don't even know it. Of those who develop a pulmonary embolism, up to 200,000 die each year, which is more than die annually in the US from breast cancer and AIDS combined.

Factors that increase the risk of getting a DVT include: 

• major surgery under general anesthesia, especially if it involves leg joints or a hip
• obesity
• varicose veins
• prolonged bed rest and immobility
• heart or lung problems that require hospitalization
• major injuries
• cancer
• leg paralysis
• pregnancy and childbirth
• estrogen containing contraceptive pills, patch, or vaginal ring
• estrogen replacement therapy
• long-distance travel

Symptoms of a DVT include:

• leg swelling 
• leg pain -- often worse when standing or walking
• leg warmth and redness
• Ways to  prevent getting a clot include:
• exercising the legs regularly -- take a brisk walk every day 
• maintaining a reasonable body weight
• avoiding sitting or lying in bed for long periods of time 
• avoiding tight-fitting, restrictive clothing
• sitting with both legs on the floor (uncrossed)

March is DVT Awareness Month.  If you know of someone who is at risk for contracting one, please encourage them to seek help from their doctor, and to start exercising regularly.  For more information, visit this site: http://www.hematology.org/News/2011/6473.aspx

(All  images from Google) 

National Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest, RN

My brother had a girlfriend whose parents were just wonderful.  That would include me in many of their family outings since I was new to the area and didn’t know anyone in town.  Not long after I finished college and got married, they moved to my town.  It was so nice to have "family" close by.  After the end of my marriage and the birth of my son I moved back home to my parents’ house.  Not soon after that I got the call that Mrs. Doris had passed away.  I was in shock and disbelief.  She was only in her late 40's or early 50's, was not sick, and had no medical problems that I was aware of.  She died from a pulmonary embolism.  She developed Deep vein thrombosis in her lower leg that went untreated. The clot broke loose, turning it into an emboli’s, that went to her lungs and it killed her.

(Google Image) 

Before my husband became bedridden he was wheelchair bound.  Since he had muscles spasms in his legs, I assumed that he had kicked the table or something.  He had no feeling in his lower extremities, so he felt no pain.  We went to the hospital, because he had a few other problems, and he needed to be checked for any broken bones, fortunately, the x-ray showed no broken bones, however there was a possibility that he may have developed a clot.  My husband was terrified.  He just knew he was going to die.  He held on to my hand for the 2 hours we had to wait to get the tests run.  Luckily, he did not have Deep Vein Thrombosis, but simply edema.  Two years later, however, after he was hospitalized for a kidney infection, he developed deep vein thrombosis.  He was not expected to survive, however the heparin shots were started, and I only moved him, and was extremely careful.  From the previous experience, I made sure no one said the words "blood clot" around him, even left a note on the door.  The clot finally resolved, and he was able to return home.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that occurs in the deep inside the body, usually the legs.  They can be caused by several things such as:

• Inserting a heart catheter in the lower legs;
• Bed rest;
• Smoking;
• Obesity;
• Fractures;
• Recent Surgery;
• Child Birth;
• Family History;
• Cancer; and
• Taking birth control medications or other medications.

(Google Image) 

Signs of a DVT are redness, swelling pain and warmth to an area, usually the legs.  An ultrasound or venography can confirm suspicions of DVT.  Once the diagnosis is confirmed, blood thinners such as heparin, which can be given IV or subcutaneous; and Coumadin (warfarin) can be taken by mouth are started.  Hospitalization is required in heparin is given iv, however my be allowed home if the injections are given in the abdomen, or if pills are prescribe.  Patients may be required to wear anti-embolism stockings to percent DVT from forming.

(Google Image) 

March is National Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month.  If you know of someone who fits the profiles above of someone who is susceptible to having DVT, Please alert them to the signs and symptoms of DVT and make sure they seek help immediately if they believe they may have a blood clot.