Search Results for: blog what is deep vein thrombosis

Deep Vein Blood Clots Run in Families

Posted on by

Researchers in Sweden have discovered that a person’s risk of developing a deep vein blood clot is increased if that person has other people in their family who suffered from it. In short, this means that these types of conditions run in families. This is the first study on this subject that used a large population. Swedish researchers have found that there is a correlation between the number of your relatives who have had a blood clot in a deep vein, and your risk of experiencing the same thing. There are genetic factors that play a part. They also note … Continue reading →

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Posted on by

Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, most commonly in the leg or the pelvis. Clots are more likely to occur in the left side, especially in the left calf area. Symptoms of DVT include pain, swelling, and redness. If the clot becomes loose and travels to the lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal. During pregnancy, women are at an increased risk for deep vein thrombosis since blood flow slows down and clots easier. Previous cases of DVT during pregnancy increases a woman’s risk even further. If you … Continue reading →

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

If you’ve ever traveled by air, you’ve probably heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. DVT most often appears in the thigh or lower leg, but can appear in other parts of the body. First things first: what is a blood clot? When the blood thickens and clumps together, that is a blood clot. Blood clots can form in any vein, but those that form in veins near the skin’s surface are generally not dangerous. A blood clot that occurs in a deep vein can … Continue reading →

Your First Forty-Eight Hours

Posted on by

The first forty-eight hours following birth are a mixture of joy and sheer exhaustion. Childbirth classes often focus more on pregnancy and the birth. They touch on the postpartum period, but for the most part, they don’t go into to much detail about the events that happen after the baby is born. One of the most popular questions I get is, “what will my stomach look like after I have my baby?” After you have your baby, everything except for the baby and the placenta remains. As a result, the size of your post-birth belly may surprise you. Many women … Continue reading →

Don’t Ignore These Pains

Posted on by

I was at work at the cats-only boarding facility over the weekend and twisted the wrong way, wrenching my knee. The pain about floored me, and I had to grab onto the nearest counter in order to stay on my feet. Sometimes, your body gives you signals you just can’t ignore! There are some pains that can signal serious health issues — so don’t talk yourself out of getting some help if you experience something like these. The worst headache of your life could be a serious problem — a classic sign of a brain aneurysm is when a patient … Continue reading →

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Risks and Precautions

Posted on by

Considering hormone replacement therapy? Here are some things to think about. The FDA recommends that certain women do not use hormone replacement therapy: Women who might be pregnant Women with a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer Women with a personal history of certain forms of endometrial cancer Women with a personal history of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, heart attack, or stroke Women who have active liver disease. (Though women with liver disease may be able to use hormone replacement therapy in patch form.) If you fall into those categories, talk to your doctors about alternative, non-hormonal treatments … Continue reading →

Coated Stents

Stents are the tubes inserted into arteries to help them stay open after angioplasty (surgery to remove clots). Right now, surgeons are using stents coated with drugs. Italian researchers are trying out a new type of coated stent with some success. These new stents are coated with a special compound that is designed to help prevent thrombosis (the formation of clots) and restenosis (the buildup of deposits that can clog blood vessels). The compound was developed by CeloNova Biosciences here in the United States and tested out by the University of Catania in Italy. The coating was designed to reduce … Continue reading →

Safe and Healthy Travel with a Senior

Senior citizens often tend to have more health problems than the average adult. Here are some things you can do to make sure your travel with an older adult is safe and healthy! Schedule a visit to the doctor about a week before the trip. Talk about any health concerns, make sure all prescriptions are filled, and address any other issues. Your doc may have some information or advice for emergencies while you are away. Ask your doctor to provide a list of past and current medical issues and how they are being treated; brand and generic names of drugs … Continue reading →

Ergonomics: Dos and Don’ts

Are you experiencing pain sitting at your computer? Maybe it’s your back that aches after a day at the office. Maybe your elbows, wrists, and shoulders are throbbing. Maybe your hips hurt. A proper ergonomic set-up can alleviate a lot of that pain! Ergonomics is personal. What works for you may not work for someone else. Experiment until you find a pain-free set-up. Here are some hints to help you find the best possible position for computer, chair, and body. Don’t settle! Ask for a different desk or chair that may be more comfortable. Try swapping workstations with a coworker … Continue reading →

Travel and Your Health: Long Flights And Blood Clots

I had never heard of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) until the death of NBC news correspondent David Bloom. The newsman died of the condition while he was covering the war in Iraq four years ago. Now the World Health Organization has issued a warning to all travelers regarding long flights and DVT. The U.N. agency is recommending that passengers on flights that exceed four hours exercise their legs and avoid taking sleeping pills to reduce the risk of potentially fatal blood clots. Doctors say deep vein thrombosis, which occurs when a blood clot in the extremities … Continue reading →