There are two main types of blood clots. How a clot affects the body depends on the type and location of the clot:. Both types of clots can cause serious health problems, but the causes and steps you can take to protect yourself are different. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Venous Thromboembolism Blood Clots. Section Navigation.
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. What is Venous Thromboembolism? Minus Related Pages. View the full infographic. Know the Signs. Know your Risk. Seek Care. An ultrasound is the most common test. It uses sound waves to check the blood flow in your veins. A venography also can be done to find blood clots. A doctor injects dye into your veins and then takes an X-ray to check your blood flow. There are several things you can do to help prevent DVT. These are more important if you are at increased risk.
Several medicines are used to treat and prevent DVT. Common ones include warfarin or heparin. Warfarin is taken as a pill and heparin is given intravenously in your veins. Warfarin can cause birth defects. Women who are pregnant should not take warfarin. Newer treatment programs recommend NOACs novel oral anticoagulants as preferable medicines in most settings. Brand names include Eliquis, Pradaxa, and Xarelto.
Anticoagulants can cause you to bleed more easily. For example, you might notice that your blood takes longer to clot when you cut yourself. You may bruise more easily as well. If you have any unusual or heavy bleeding, call your doctor right away. Some other medicines can affect how well an anticoagulant works. Talk to your doctor before you take any new medicine.
This includes over-the-counter medicines and vitamins. Certain foods rich in vitamin K, such as dark green vegetables, also can have an effect. Your doctor may suggest putting a filter in your vena cava. This is the main vein that carries blood from your lower body to your heart. This filter can catch a clot as it moves through your bloodstream and prevent it from reaching your lungs.
This treatment is more common for people who have had several blood clots travel to their lungs. It is important to start treatment right away for DVT. It takes about 3 to 6 months for a blood clot to go away. During this time, there are things you can do to relieve symptoms. Elevate your leg to reduce swelling. The filter traps and stops a blood clot travelling to your heart and lungs.
A newer treatment involves breaking up and sucking out the clot through a small tube in the vein. You usually need to take anticoagulant medicine for several months after this treatment.
DVT in pregnancy is treated differently. It is treated with anticoagulant injections for the rest of the pregnancy and until the baby is 6 weeks old. Read more about DVT in pregnancy. If you're travelling for 3 hours or more by plane, train or car, there are things you can do during the journey to reduce your risk of DVT. These include drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol. Find out more tips to reduce your risk of travel-related DVT. Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, get good sleep, and control stress.
Talk with your doctor. Find out about the risk factors for DVT. If you develop DVT, talk to your doctor about ways to lower your risk of complications, such as taking medication to prevent clots or wearing compression stockings. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Deep Vein Thrombosis. By Beth W.
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