Leg Cramp or Blood Clot
A blood clot can become fatal if it’s left untreated, so it’s vital that more people learn to recognize the risk and symptoms of DVT.
Sheboygan, Wisconsin (PRWEB) September 15, 2016
Dr. Mirza created a new website, http://www.preventdvtnow.com to help educate people about risk factors, prevention, and recovery from DVT/PE.
A leg cramp can be the beginning symptom of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the medical term for a blood clot. Since the symptoms of DVT can vary and be relatively light, even your doctor might not immediately consider it. However, a clot can become fatal if it’s left untreated, so it’s vital that more people learn to recognize the risk and symptoms of DVT.
The perception is that blood clots affect only very sick or elderly people, but the reality is that DVT can happen to anyone regardless of age and level of fitness. When a piece or the entire clot breaks free and travels to the lungs, it’s called a pulmonary embolism (PE). 60,000-100,000 Americans die of DVT/PE each year, while as many as 900,000 are affected by it.
It’s common for people to think that the first symptoms of DVT are the result of having slept funny, turning an ankle and not remember it, bumping into something without remembering it, a pulled muscle, exercise-induced asthma, or the beginning stages of the flu. When the pain doesn’t go away in a day or two, far too many people put it off to being older and taking longer to heal instead of suspecting the potentially fatal condition that it is.
Localized swelling, pain, bluish-purple discoloration in your arm or leg, sudden shortness of breath, chest pains when breathing, and fever with any of the above symptoms can mean DVT or PE and warrant an immediate trip to the ER.
If the above symptoms occur during or following recent travel, dehydration, sitting for extended periods, trauma, or surgery, the chances of a clot are considerable. A family history of DVT/PE or a personal history of obesity and smoking also increase the risk.
If a blood clot is suspected, get medical help immediately to decrease the amount of damage that can occur and to lower your chances of dying. Be aware that some of the preventative measures increase your risks of the clot breaking free and causing a PE before treatment begins. Don’t self-treat if you have symptoms. Get to the ER as fast as possible.
To learn if you or a loved one are at greater risk for blood clots, find out more about preventing this life-threatening condition, and gain access to a free video series on DVT/PE and silent killers, visit http://www.preventdvtnow.com.