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LONG BRANCH, NJ, MARCH 10, 2009 – Deep
vein thrombosis (DVT), a potentially fatal condition occurring
in about two million Americans each year, is a condition that
routinely causes minor or no symptoms in about half of those
affected, until it is too late.
DVT is the formation of a blood clot in one of the deep veins
within the body, such as in the leg or pelvis. When a blood clot
travels from the legs or pelvic areas and lodges in a lung artery,
the condition is known as a pulmonary embolism, or PE, a potentially
fatal condition if not immediately diagnosed and treated.
Several years ago, DVT and PE made headlines when NBC news correspondent
David Bloom began traveling across Iraq embedded with U.S. military
forces to report on the war. Several weeks into his trip, Bloom
began to experience leg cramps. Since he was spending nights
sleeping inside military vehicles in rather cramped quarters,
leg cramps didn’t seem particularly alarming. What 39-year-old
Bloom didn’t know was that he had developed DVT. It was
only a few days after first experiencing the leg cramps that
Bloom collapsed and died of a pulmonary embolism - the result
of a blood clot that had traveled from his leg through his blood
stream to his lungs where it eventually killed him.
This tragic incident has brought light to the serious nature
of DVT and PE, an unrecognized danger that affects millions of
adults who, like Bloom, are by all measures, otherwise healthy.
To help educate the public on the risk of DVT, the American Academy
of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation named March as National
Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month.
According to George S. Constantinopoulos, MD, section chief
of Vascular Surgery at Monmouth Medical Center, “There
are many reasons a blood clot can form, including prolonged immobility,
trauma, predisposition to blood clots, as well as other conditions
such as cancer, increasing age, stroke, pregnancy, surgery or
respiratory failure. While DVT is serious, the more serious condition
occurs when the blood clot breaks away from the vein and travels
through the bloodstream to the heart or lungs.”
Dr. Constantinopoulos explained that when a blood clot or PE
lodges into the lung, it can often be treated successfully if
caught early. But if left untreated, oxygen flow is limited throughout
the body, which can cause death, Dr. Constantinopoulos said.
Symptoms of DVT may include pain, tenderness, cramping, swelling,
discoloration or unusual redness in the lower legs. These symptoms
require immediate medical attention.
Unfortunately, a good percentage of patients with DVT either
minimize or do not recognize the symptoms until a pulmonary embolism
develops. According to Dr. Constantinopoulos, signs of a pulmonary
embolism can include new onset shortness of breath at rest or
with mild activity, rapid pulse, decreased blood pressure, sweating,
coughing up blood or sharp chest pains. “Any of these signs
require immediate medical attention and you should call 911,” he
said.
To prevent DVT from occurring, bend your toes and stretch your
legs as often as possible, especially in cramped situations such
as a long plane ride or during an illness in which you are confined
to bed rest. Maintain a healthy weight and diet, since obesity
can cause DVT. If you smoke, stop. Talk to your doctor if you
are at increased risk for blood clots due to prescription medications
you are taking or family history of DVT. People who have had
DVT in the past are at greater risk of experiencing it again
in the future. If you plan any major surgery, discuss the risk
of DVT with your doctor.
Dr. Constantinopoulos said, “If you are particularly concerned
about your risk of DVT, talk to your doctor about preventative
screening. There are many different screening techniques available
to monitor blood flow in the legs. The most common is through
the use of ultrasound to evaluate circulation in the lower extremities.”
For more information on DVT or to find a physician in your area,
call Monmouth Medical Center’s physician referral service
at 1-888-724-7123 or visit www.barnabashealth.org.
CONTACT: Kristine A. Brown
Director of Public Relations
732-557-3902
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