What’s the Best Way to Diagnose Blood Clots?
Author: StrideCare Internal Team
It is estimated that up to 600,000 people each year in the United States are affected by blood clots that form in the deep large veins of the pelvis, legs, thighs, or arms. These deep blood clots, also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), are a life-threatening condition that can affect anyone at any age. Although preventable, the sad reality is that blood clots often go under-diagnosed. Being educated about the potential symptoms and signs of DVT and scheduling an appointment with a vascular specialist is the first step to overcoming this condition.
StrideCare is your premier center for properly diagnosing a blood clot’s serious implications through diagnostic venous ultrasound or a venography. These diagnostics allow us to recognize DVT warning signs at all stages and dramatically improve our patients’ quality of life.
Are You Experiencing Symptoms of Blood Clots?
What Causes Blood Clots?
Many people might not initially think of a blood clot as a bad thing. After all, this gel-like mass is formed by platelets and fibrin in the blood to either stop bleeding or repair damage to a blood vessel. The problem is when blood clots form where they aren’t supposed to inside a deep vein or an artery. When this happens, blood can’t flow past the clot, causing an immediate decrease in blood circulation. If left undiagnosed and untreated, blood clots can result in strokes, pulmonary embolism, heart attacks, and death.
While there is no single factor that guarantees the cause of deep vein thrombosis, below are a few reasons why a blood clot may form inside a vein:
- Prolonged Immobility
Long periods of immobility, whether because you’re bedridden due to surgery or illness or you’ve been sitting in a confined space such as long plane or car rides, can cause sluggish or slow blood flow. This is because your muscles aren’t contracting normally and helping blood circulate.
- Recent Surgery or Injury
Surgeries that limit mobility have been known to cause blood clots to form. Also, blood clots are a concern with surgeries that require arteries and veins to be cut or repaired, or if your veins were damaged during surgery or because of a specific injury. Debris, tissue, and even collagen could release into your bloodstream and make the blood around those particles thicker.
- Medications
Certain medications, including birth control pills and medication that promotes blood clotting, can put you or a family member at risk for blood clots. Examples of medicine that cause blood clots include painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
- Inherited Blood-Clotting Disorders
There is a genetic component to blood clots. In fact, people with inherited conditions tend to develop blood clots before 45 years of age and without a specific cause. These same people are likely to have more than one blood clot in their lifetime.
- Smoking
According to the American Heart Association, smoking damages the lining of blood vessels, leads to higher risks of vascular disease, and raises the risk of unwanted blood clots.
How Are Blood Clots Diagnosed?
There are generally two forms of diagnostics used to identify whether a patient has blood clots: Diagnostic Venous Ultrasound and Venography.
Diagnostic Venous Ultrasound
Diagnostic venous ultrasound uses sound waves to view the circulatory system and structures of the veins underneath the skin. The entire ultrasound process typically takes 45-60 minutes to complete, and the best part is that it is all done without cutting, scarring, or anesthesia. You’ll be able to return to your normal daily activities immediately after the procedure, including work.
Diagnostic venous ultrasound is most commonly used to search for blood clots, and it is typically the first exploratory option before moving on to other methods.
Venography
If additional testing is necessary, a venography can uncover problems with veins that venous ultrasound cannot view. With a venography, a doctor will inject an iodine-based solution into the veins to act as a contrast that can be seen easily on an x-ray. This allows doctors to get a full view of your veins. You may experience some mild bruising and tenderness at the access site, but this is normal and side effects typically resolve on their own within a few days.
The bottom line is that interventional radiologists like the team here at StrideCare understand that blood clots are a concern for many patients. While we don’t treat blood clots, we are routinely called upon to expertly diagnose this condition and craft a treatment plan that works for you.
StrideCare Can Help with Diagnosing Blood Clots
StrideCare has long been a leader in performing leading-edge procedures to treat vein disease and diagnose severe conditions such as blood clots. We are here to help you. The vascular physicians at StrideCare are board-certified diagnostic radiologists with additional fellowship training in vascular and interventional radiology.
If your veins need treatment, or you have questions on how to avoid blood clots and would like a varicose vein screening, the experts at StrideCare will recommend an individualized plan to help you get the best results. Request an appointment for a vein disease evaluation to discuss your options.
Prior to starting any new treatment or questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
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