The blood is supplied to the legs by getting transported with the help of arteries and veins. The blood is carried to the leg from the heart by the arteries and the veins carry the blood back to the heart from the limbs. There are two kinds of veins in the legs; the superficial veins which are on the surface and the deep seated veins which are placed deeper inside the legs. The condition in which a blood clot is formed in the deep vein of the leg is called deep vein thrombosis or DVT. DVT can occur in any part of the body but mainly it occurs in the limbs. Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a very serious and dangerous condition and requires immediate medical help. The thrombus or the clot may even break loose and travel to the lung through the bloodstream. If the lung is blocked by the thrombus, it becomes very difficult to breathe and when the conditions aggravates, it may lead to the death of the patient.
Can You Get Deep Vein Thrombosis in Your Foot?
Blood clotting and deep vein thrombosis or DVT in calves are not as risky as the clots occurring in the thighs. You can even get deep vein thrombosis or DVT in your foot which makes it difficult for you to move. There are several major reasons which lead to the formation of deep vein thrombosis or DVT. The higher the risk factors, the greater are the possibility of the person to develop DVT. Even person with no risk factors may develop DVT in foot.
What are the Various Risk Factors which can Cause Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT in Your Foot?
- Vein or blood conditions like varicose veins, disorders related to blood clotting, previous case of deep vein thrombosis or DVT and family history of DVT or blood clotting disorders.
- Medical conditions like obesity, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease, sepsis, dehydration and chronic swelling of the feet or legs can lead to deep vein thrombosis or DVT.
- Health conditions related to women like pregnancy and recent child birth, use of birth control pills containing high levels of oestrogen and hormone replacement therapy may also cause deep vein thrombosis or DVT.
- Other conditions include smoking, a recent surgery, trauma from an accident or a surgery, age (when above 40) and development of immobility through wearing a cast or due to inactivity also reasons to deep vein thrombosis or DVT.
What are the Possible Signs and Symptoms Which Suggest that you Have Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT in Your Foot?
The signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or DVT in foot are often either very vague or there are no symptoms at all. If the symptoms start to develop, the warning signs that you must identify and get immediately checked by a doctor are:
- Pain in the foot, calf or thigh
- Redness of the foot and warmth in the leg and foot.
- Swelling of the leg, foot
These signs require immediate medical attention and only after proper tests and diagnosis a doctor can confirm if you have deep vein thrombosis or DVT in foot.
What are the Complications That Can Develop From You Suffering from Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT in Your Foot?
One of the very serious and imminent complications that can rise from deep vein thrombosis or DVT in foot or DVT in leg is Pulmonary Embolism or PE. PE occurs when the blood clot in your foot travels to the blood vessels in the lung after breaking loose. The usual symptoms which point out to you suffering from pulmonary embolism are breathless or shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood and feeling choked, loss of life and impending doom. If the blood clot which cause deep vein thrombosis or DVT remains in your foot for too long the vein containing he blood clot will be severely and permanently damage. Severe damage of vein can be recognised from signs like persistent swelling of the foot, continuous pain and discolouration of your foot and leg.
