Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a health condition where blood clots form in the veins found in the lower part of the body, such as the legs, leading to swelling in the area. It can prove extremely dangerous and life-threatening if left undiagnosed. The disease is also referred to as pulmonary embolism (PE), thromboembolism, postthrombotic syndrome, and postphlebitic syndrome. This article lists the risk factors and diagnostic methods for DVT.

Risk factors
DVT mainly affects people who are above 50. However, the condition is also pretty common in those with the following risk factors:

1. Excess body fat
Being overweight and having excess body fat can put pressure on the veins, obstructing blood circulation. This, in turn, leads to blood clots. Hence, individuals must try to maintain a healthy weight by exercising.

2. Pregnancy
The growing fetus inside a woman’s belly is another factor that can exert pressure on the body’s veins and lead to blood clots or DVT. Women who are in the first five to six weeks of postpartum are also at risk.

3. Hereditary
Research says that DVT can be hereditary. It means that individuals can inherit the disease from their parents or ancestors. Those who have close relatives with the problem should, therefore, get checked from time to time.

4. Injury or surgery
People who have sustained a fracture in the pelvic, hip, lower back, or lower portions of the body are at risk of developing the condition. Besides, patients who have recently undergone surgery or certain types of hormone therapy are also susceptible.

Diagnosis
Doctors first perform a thorough physical examination to check for swelling, changes in the color of the skin, and tenderness. In addition, the following tests are performed:

1. D-dimer blood test
D-dimer is a type of protein released into the bloodstream when blood clots form or break down. People with DVT are known to have higher D-dimer levels in their blood, which can help diagnose the condition.

2. Duplex ultrasound
Here, sound waves are used to create images of how blood is flowing through the veins. It is a non-invasive test where the medical practitioner places a hand-held device on the skin that produces the images on a screen. Duplex ultrasound is done from time to time to check if the clot is growing, thickening, or developing into a new one.

3. Venography
This involves injecting a dye into the large veins of the foot or ankle. A detailed X-ray is taken, where the images of the vein in legs and feet point out the presence of clots. Since this is test is invasive, it is performed only in rare cases.

4. MRI scan
A detailed MRI is a popular option for detecting DVT. Like ultrasound, an MRI scan produces crisp images of the patient’s veins. It is mainly used to detect blood clots in the abdomen. This method is more expensive than the other options.