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Calf pain
Thigh pain
Varicose veins
Swollen feet
Leg pain
Leg discoloration
Red skin discoloration on lower legs
Swelling in one foot only
Burning sensation in leg
Leg swelling
Leg pain when lying down
Upper thigh pain
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
A condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually affecting the legs. The blood clot impairs blood circulation. Sometimes, the clots can dislodge and travel to an artery in your lung, which is a medical emergency.
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
Treatment for deep vein thrombosis primarily focuses on preventing the clot from growing further using blood-thinning medications and medication to break up the clots. In severe cases, surgery or an interventional radiology procedure to remove the clots may be required.
Reviewed By:
Maxwell J. Nanes, DO (Emergency Medicine)
Dr Nanes received a doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete a residency in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. There he trained at Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in the practice of adult and pediatric emergency medicine. He was a chief resident and received numerous awards for teaching excellence during his time there. | | After residency he took a job at a community hospital where he and his colleagues worked through the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Dec 13, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
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Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
Q.
Is Your INR Unstable? Why Your Blood Clots This Way & Medical Next Steps
A.
An unstable INR means your clotting time is swinging above or below your target, often due to changes in vitamin K intake, medications or supplements, illness, alcohol, missed or extra doses, or underlying conditions, which raises clot risk when low and bleeding risk when high. Next steps include reviewing recent changes, increasing INR checks, working with your clinician on dose adjustments or considering another anticoagulant when appropriate, and seeking urgent care for red flag symptoms; there are several factors to consider, so see the complete guidance below.
References:
* Singh R, Dhesi M, Jaryal A, Singh M, Kaur S. Factors affecting warfarin dose and INR variability: A retrospective cohort study. J Postgrad Med. 2020 Jul-Sep;66(3):133-138. doi: 10.4103/jpgm.JPGM_305_19. PMID: 32675685.
* Camm J, Fitzmaurice DA, Al-Khatib SM, et al. Strategies to Improve Time in Therapeutic Range in Patients on Warfarin. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021 Feb 2;77(4):460-461. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.10.063. PMID: 33496335.
* Patel K, Salgado K, Kazi R, Shah R, Patel P, Marascalchi J, Kumar N. Management of warfarin therapy: a review of challenges and strategies for improvement. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2018 Oct;43(5):603-611. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.12727. PMID: 29775376.
* Tamez-Pérez HE, Tamez-Peña AL, García-Hernández PA. Pharmacogenomics of Warfarin: A Brief Review. Arch Med Res. 2018 Oct;49(7):495-502. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2018.10.007. PMID: 30420073.
* Wysowski DK. Optimizing warfarin management: an evidence-based approach. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2015 Nov;40(4):479-88. doi: 10.1007/s11239-015-1279-0. PMID: 26420172.
Q.
Is Rivaroxaban Safe? The Scientific Reality & Your Medical Next Steps
A.
Rivaroxaban is generally safe and effective when prescribed appropriately and taken correctly, backed by large trials for clot and stroke prevention, but it carries a real risk of bleeding that ranges from minor to serious depending on your age, kidney and liver function, other drugs, and medical history. There are several factors to consider, including when to seek urgent care, who should be extra cautious, how to handle missed doses, why you should not stop it suddenly, and the role of reversal treatment; see the complete answer below for details and the medical next steps to discuss with your doctor.
References:
* Beyer-Westendorf J. The safety and efficacy of rivaroxaban in different therapeutic indications: an overview of the ROCKET AF, EINSTEIN, and XANTUS studies. Expert Rev Hematol. 2018 Aug;11(8):613-625. doi: 10.1080/17474086.2018.1492576. Epub 2018 Jul 5. PMID: 29961449.
* Kim M, Li J, Kim D. Rivaroxaban in the elderly: A narrative review of efficacy and safety. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2022 Oct;47(10):1495-1506. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.13733. Epub 2022 Aug 23. PMID: 36021487.
* Ma Z, Yang B, Ma H, Zhang Y, Wang F, Gao Z. Real-world safety and effectiveness of rivaroxaban in patients with atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022 Feb 1;9:826189. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.826189. PMID: 35165985; PMCID: PMC8842407.
* Li D, Lin J, Li P, Hu W. Safety and Efficacy of Rivaroxaban in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Valvular Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2023 Aug 24. doi: 10.1007/s10557-023-07504-0. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37625129.
* Singh I, Lim ST, Lim CP, Lim SK, Chia D, Loh YJ, Chee MH, Tan CS. Comparative safety and effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants versus warfarin for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: an updated meta-analysis of real-world studies. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2023 Nov 1;24(11):625-635. doi: 10.2459/JCM.0000000000001550. PMID: 37722749.
Q.
Is it a Blood Clot? Why Thrombosis Forms and Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more: thrombosis is a blood clot inside a vessel that forms when blood flow slows, a vessel’s lining is injured, or the blood is more prone to clot, and it can show up as one-sided leg swelling, pain, warmth, or redness, or as sudden chest pain and shortness of breath if a clot reaches the lungs. Medically approved next steps include urgent evaluation for red flags, diagnosis with ultrasound or imaging, and anticoagulants as first-line treatment, with compression, clot-busting drugs, and prevention strategies used in select cases; see below for specifics, timelines, and how personal risk factors like surgery, immobility, hormones, cancer, and pregnancy should guide what you do next.
References:
* Stevens SM, Woller SC, Bauer KA, Kasthuri R, Cushman M, Streiff M, Dunn K, Kett DH, James A, Douketis JD, Lim W, Witt DM, Crowther R, Garcia DA, Bates SM, Pauker SG, Dahm V, Schünemann H, Guyatt GH, Jaff MR, Cohen A, American Society of Hematology 2020 Guidelines for Management of Venous Thromboembolism. *Blood Adv*. 2020 Oct 27;4(20):5033-5038. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003057. PMID: 33104193; PMCID: PMC7588326.
* Wolberg AS, Campbell RA, Mackman N. Procoagulant activity in hemostasis and thrombosis. *J Thromb Haemost*. 2020 Sep;18(9):2125-2139. doi: 10.1111/jth.14925. Epub 2020 Aug 17. PMID: 32627962; PMCID: PMC7526735.
* Konstantinides SV, Meyer G, Becattini C, Bueno H, Geersing GJ, Harjola VP, Henschke M, Kerrinnes DS, Lip GYH, Parretti M, Popescu BA, Psaroudakis M, Reissig A, Righini M, Roffi M, Sznajdman W, Ten Cate H, Vlachopoulos C, Vliegen HW, Von Bardeleben RS; ESC Scientific Document Group. 2019 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism developed in collaboration with the European Respiratory Society (ERS). *Eur Heart J*. 2020 Jan 21;41(4):543-603. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz405. Epub 2019 Aug 31. PMID: 31505060.
* Libby P, Pasterkamp G, Crea F, Koenig W, Steg PG, Mach F. The concept of atherothrombosis: an evolution in understanding and treatment of cardiovascular disease. *J Intern Med*. 2023 Apr;293(4):396-412. doi: 10.1111/joim.13601. Epub 2023 Jan 22. PMID: 36683260.
* Al-Ani F, Al-Ani M, Kichloo A, Dasa O, Singh J, Shakaib R, Khan MA. Thromboembolism: A Comprehensive Review. *Cureus*. 2022 Mar 15;14(3):e23190. doi: 10.7759/cureus.23190. PMID: 35433235; PMCID: PMC9008986.
Q.
Is it DVT? Why your leg is swelling and the medical steps to take now.
A.
New swelling in one leg with pain, warmth, or redness can be a deep vein thrombosis blood clot that needs same-day medical evaluation; call a clinician now, seek emergency care if you also have chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing blood, or fainting, and avoid massaging the leg. Other causes of leg swelling range from prolonged standing or minor injury to varicose veins and heart, kidney, or liver problems, and the symptom pattern plus an ultrasound guides diagnosis and treatment with blood thinners. There are several factors to consider and important nuances that can change your next steps; see complete details below.
References:
* Righini M, et al. Deep Venous Thrombosis. N Engl J Med. 2021 Oct 14;385(16):1488-1499. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp2109988. PMID: 34651034.
* Lim W, et al. Clinical assessment of deep vein thrombosis. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2020 Jul;8(4):645-654. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2020.01.006. PMID: 32669147.
* Al-Nouri O, et al. Approach to the Patient with Unilateral Leg Swelling. Am J Med. 2019 Aug;132(8):918-922. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.03.003. PMID: 31082103.
* Kesieme EB, et al. Deep Vein Thrombosis: Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations. J Clin Med. 2021 Mar 18;10(6):1257. doi: 10.3390/jcm10061257. PMID: 33744610.
* D'Oronzio J, et al. Management of Deep Vein Thrombosis. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2022;20(2):168-181. doi: 10.2174/1570161119666211116120516. PMID: 35017409.
Q.
Worried About Clots? The Reality of Heparin and Medically Approved Next Steps.
A.
Heparin is a proven, medically approved anticoagulant that rapidly prevents and treats serious clots like DVT and pulmonary embolism, with hospital monitoring to keep it safe. There are several factors to consider, including urgent symptoms to act on, how and when heparin is started, risks like bleeding or rare HIT, and what comes after; see below for details that could change your next steps.
References:
* Kumar R, Alhamad B, Hussain A, Patel R. Heparin: A Comprehensive Review on Current Medical Uses, Structural, and Biological Aspects. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Aug 24;24(17):13146. PMID: 37637841.
* Cuker A. An Update on Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2022 Dec;36(6):1043-1057. PMID: 36024109.
* Kearon C, et al. Antithrombotic Therapy for VTE Disease: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report. Chest. 2018 Oct;154(3):713-744. PMID: 30350482.
* Shah R, Patel P, Varma A, Patel P, Marwah A, Patoliya S, Parmar J, Parikh P. Current Anticoagulants and Their Reversal Strategies. J Clin Med. 2022 Jun 13;11(12):3396. PMID: 35741630.
* Konstantinides SV, Meyer G. Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism: A Review. JAMA. 2022 Jul 5;328(1):79-91. PMID: 35791771.
Q.
How does erythritol affect blood clotting?
A.
Erythritol, a sugar substitute, may be linked to increased risk of blood clots and heart issues according to recent studies.
References:
Witkowski M, Nemet I, Alamri H, Wilcox J, Gupta N, Nimer N, et al. (2023). The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event .... Nature medicine, 36849732.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36849732/
Mazi TA, & Stanhope KL. (2023). Elevated Erythritol: A Marker of Metabolic Dysregulation or .... Nutrients, 37764794.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37764794/
Bao Y, Li B, Zhao C, Man X, Zhang S, Zhang J, et al. (2025). Deep learning to assess erythritol in zebrafish .... NPJ science of food, 40640190.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1Di Nisio M, van Es N, Büller HR. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Lancet. 2016 Dec 17;388(10063):3060-3073. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30514-1. Epub 2016 Jun 30. PMID: 27375038.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30514-1/fulltextThachil J. Deep vein thrombosis. Hematology. 2014 Jul;19(5):309-10. doi: 10.1179/1024533214Z.000000000284. PMID: 24939044.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1179/1024533214Z.000000000284Goldhaber SZ, Bounameaux H. Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. Lancet. 2012 May 12;379(9828):1835-46. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61904-1. Epub 2012 Apr 10. PMID: 22494827.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)61904-1/fulltextJaffray J, Young G. Deep vein thrombosis in pediatric patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2018 Mar;65(3). doi: 10.1002/pbc.26881. Epub 2017 Nov 8. PMID: 29115714.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pbc.26881