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Why are Meritus Health's Drs. Mbaoua, Salvagno, and Waheed showing off their socks? To support DVT awareness. Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) is a commonly occurring medical condition that can affect otherwise healthy people. It occurs when a blood clot forms in a large vein, usually in the legs. The clot may either partially or completely block circulation. This condition has potentially serious complications such as leg ulcers. However, the greatest risk of DVT is that it may cause a pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) can occur when the blood clot or a fragment of it breaks loose and travels to the lungs, where it blocks a pulmonary artery or one of its branches. This is a medical emergency; nearly a third of people with untreated PE will die. PE signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, coughing up blood, and fainting.

DVT may be caused by a variety of risk factors and triggering events, including cancer, obesity or restricted mobility due to medical illness, stroke, major surgery, previous DVT, or respiratory failure. DVT symptoms may include tenderness, pain in the leg, swelling and discoloration or redness.

You can reduce your risk of DVT by
* keeping active and maintaining a healthy diet;
* avoiding sitting or lying down for long periods of time;
* stopping smoking;
* choosing looser, less restrictive clothing;
* staying hydrated.

Up to half of DVT cases may have few or no symptoms. To help determine your risk for DVT, please take the DVT Risk Quiz. If you think you are experiencing the symptoms of DVT or PE, you should seek medical attention immediately.

To listen to vascular care specialist Cathy Ware, RN, discuss DVT on the Health Matters radio show, please click here.