When normal blood flow slows down due to illness, injury, or inactivity, the chances increase for developing a DVT.

Illustration reprinted with permission of the Society of Interventional Radiology ©2003, www.sirweb.org

About DVT

An estimated 600,000 new cases of DVT occur every year in the United States, affecting both men and women in all ethnic and social groups. DVT can lead to complications such as pulmonary embolism (PE) or post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Approximately 200,000 individuals die annually as a result of pulmonary embolism.^1,2

1. Schreiber, D. Deep venous thrombosis and thrombophlebitis. www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic122.htm, updated October 2005.

2. Society of Vascular Surgeons, www.vascularweb.org

The encouraging news is that with greater awareness of risk factors and symptoms, DVT can be diagnosed and treated early and major complications can be reduced and/or avoided.

How Does a DVT form?

The body’s circulatory system consists of the heart, veins, and arteries. Veins transport blood low in oxygen from the body to the heart and lungs while arteries move newly oxygenated blood throughout the body.

In the legs, deep veins carry the blood from the legs to the heart with the help of powerful muscles that propel the blood as they contract. After these muscles contract, one-way valves (venous valves) close to prevent blood from flowing back to the feet.

Illness, injury, vessel damage, or inactivity can slow down the blood’s circulation, causing blood to “pool.” This stagnating blood creates an ideal environment for a clot to form. Also, some people have an increased tendency toward blood clotting, either due to medication or genetic factors.