Deep Vein Thrombosis: Unexpected Causes

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Pham Van Hung - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

Deep vein thrombosis occurs when one or more blood clots form in the deep veins of the body, especially the veins of the legs. In dangerous cases, deep vein thrombosis can lead to pulmonary embolism complications, threatening the patient's life.

New studies have shown that athletes, especially in endurance sports such as marathons, can develop blood clots more often than the average person, because athletes risk of dehydration or injury with greater frequency.
The symptoms of deep vein thrombosis are easily confused with those associated with exercise. People who are often active should consult a doctor if there are symptoms such as unexplained swelling, bruising or cramps in the limbs, or especially the chest area.

Before and after surgery, patients often lie in bed. This slows down the rate at which blood circulates throughout the body. Surgery involving the abdomen, pelvis, hips, legs ... injuring the large veins during surgery, thereby increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
Patients need to talk to the doctor before surgery to get the necessary information. In many cases, your doctor will use blood clot inhibitors before surgery. After surgery, the patient should get up and walk as soon as possible.

Conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and some other intestinal diseases can increase the risk of venous thrombosis 2 to 3 times compared with the general population. The reason is that patients with these diseases often have dehydration, often have to lie down, or have surgery. In addition, inflammatory bowel conditions may also be associated with increased blood clotting.

One small study compared vitamin D levels in 82 people with deep vein thrombosis with vitamin D levels in 85 people without the condition. In particular, patients with deep vein thrombosis have lower vitamin D levels, for unknown reasons.
Science shows that adults need between 600 and 800 IU of vitamin D per day. Vitamin D can be obtained through foods such as salmon, tuna, cheese, egg yolks, or by sunbathing every 2 weeks, 30 minutes each time. Vitamin D levels can be checked with a blood test.

Birth control pills and Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) both contain estrogen, an essential female hormone and can aid in blood clotting.
However, the incidence is very small: each year, out of every 1000 women taking oral contraceptives, only 1 develops a deep vein thrombosis. However, the risk may be increased for women using the patch (60% more than the pill), or in women with other risk factors. Men who use the male hormone testosterone also tend to be more prone to blood clots.

Tumors can cause cell damage and release substances that trigger blood clot production. Brain, colon, lung, kidney, ovarian, pancreatic, and stomach cancers are the cancers with the highest rates of deep vein thrombosis. Some chemotherapy methods also tend to increase the risk of blood clots.

Increased body weight increases pressure on the veins in the pelvis and legs, doubling the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher and taking oral contraceptives are 10 times more likely to have a deep vein thrombosis than the general population. Regular exercise is the best way to prevent blood clots and also help with weight loss.

Pregnancy puts extra pressure on the veins in the pelvis and legs. According to scientific research, 2 out of every 1000 pregnant women have deep vein thrombosis. Women who give birth until 6 weeks postpartum are still at risk, and the risk is increased for those who are obese, are over 35 years of age, are carrying twins, have a family history of blood clots, or are bedridden. To reduce the risk, pregnant women should exercise regularly throughout pregnancy.

Although there is currently no exact scientific explanation for the cause, but the earlier a person is born (more than 37 weeks gestation) the higher the risk of DVT.

Smoking cigarettes, even if smoked very little, affects blood clotting and blood circulation in the body, thereby causing damage to the heart and blood vessels. In particular, women who are using oral contraceptives should not smoke at all, because this combination can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis by up to 9 times. Quitting smoking also reduces your risk of blood clots and other heart problems.
Deep vein thrombosis if not diagnosed and treated can leave dangerous complications, life-threatening to the patient. There are many causes of deep vein thrombosis in the information above, so to prevent the disease, in addition to eliminating the above causes, you should also visit your doctor to detect the disease early.
Periodic health check-ups help to detect diseases early, so that there are treatment plans for optimal results. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has general health checkup packages suitable for each age, gender and individual needs of customers with a reasonable price policy, including:
Health checkup package general Vip Standard general health checkup package Patient's examination results will be returned to your home. After receiving the results of the general health examination, if you detect diseases that require intensive examination and treatment, you can use services from other specialties at the Hospital with quality treatment and services. outstanding customer service.
To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact the nationwide Vinmec Health System Hotline, or register online

Article referenced source: Webmd.com