Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is the formation of blood clots in veins deep inside the body.

Clots for for several reasons:

• often simply because you are unable to move about for long periods of time. That might occur after major surgery, especially on hip, knee, leg, calf, abdomen or chest, or after prolonged periods of travel, such as on airplanes
• if you have had clots previously
• other serious illnesses can increase the odds of clot development: cancer, diabetes, heart failure, major trauma
• being overweight
• birth control pills, pregnancy and childbirth
• blood-clotting disorders
• aging
• smoking
• cancer
• varicose veins

Symptoms may include:

• pain and swelling of leg or arm
• the leg or arm in the same area as the pain turns discolored

Diagnosis:

Physicians typically find the clot using ultrasound, or CT venography. The latter is a CT scan taken after dye is injected into a vein. A blood test can detect the presence of a certain clotting factor.

Prevention:

• Exercise or flex your legs if sitting for a long time. When possible, walk.
• Ask your doctor about wearing compression stockings.
• If you are already taking blood thinners, ask your doctor about foods that might affect the impact of the medication.
• Drink plenty of water so you don't become dehydrated.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

http://healthlibrary.stanford.edu: the Stanford Health Library Web page includes many links to resources

www.preventdvt.org: Coalition to Prevent DVT, an organization of 50 medical associations and health care providers

www.treatdvt.com: Stanford Interventional Radiology Web site