Checking Yourself for Deep Vein Thrombosis
April 4, 2021 • karnold • Deep Vein Thrombosis
Worried You Have Deep Vein Thrombosis?
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