What is deep vein thrombosis and why is of concern to those who drive long distances in highway tractor rigs everyday as their livelihood? Those in the long range trucking field who drive tractor transports long distances must be aware of the condition of deep vein thrombosis to both prevent this disorder as well as to ensure that if they suffer it that their health does not deteriorate further. Their trucker’s drier license and livelihood depend upon this. Deep vein thrombosis (also referred to as simply DVT) referred to medically in the trade as “venous thrombosis”. Simply put it’s the workings of a blood clot that gets in veins deep in the body. Coumadin – what some jokingly (or not so jokingly) refer to as “rat poison”, is often first line treatment. The clot may partly or block blood flow through the vein. Most DVTs occur in the lower leg, thigh or pelvis, although they also can occur in other parts of the body including the brain, arm, intestines, liver or kidney.

Deep vein thrombosis can create if you\’re sitting still for a long time, such as when traveling by airplane or automobile or in the event you have certain medical conditions that affect how your blood clots. DVT is a condition in which a blood clot thrombus forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, normally in your legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain, but often occurs without any symptoms. Deep vein thrombosis is a serious condition because a blood clot that has formed in your vein can pass loose and travel to your lungs. However, many deep vein thromboses disappear on their own.

Symptoms & What to Be On the Alert For Include:

– Any Swellings of legs or arms (this may occur over times or sometimes in a flash of time)

– Any untoward or unexplained tenderness or pain in the leg areas that may only be present when either walking or standing mainly

– Watch out for feeling of noticeably increased warmth in the areas of the legs or in arms that are swollen or that hurt

– Unexplained Redness or discoloration of the skin. Again it may occur gradually over time or it may occur suddenly

– Especially as a marker and noticeable concern are typically enlargements of the superficial veins in the affected legs or arms

Blocking deep vein thrombosis is far easier than treating it after it\’s happened. Some common good steps include the following:

Take any prescribed medications as directed. If you\’re having surgery, such as orthopedic surgery, you\’ll probably be given blood thinners while you\’re in the infirmary.

Check in along with your doctor regularly to find out if your medication or treatments need to be changed.

Watch how much vitamin K you\’re taking in the event you take blood thinners. Vitamin K can affect how drugs such as warfarin work. Foods high in vitamin K include green leafy vegetables and canola oils and soybean oils.

Workout your lower calf muscles if you\’ll be sitting a long time. Whenever possible, get up and walk around. in the event you can\’t get up to walk around, try raising and lowering your heels while keeping your toes on the floor, then raising your toes while your heels are on the floor.

Move. If you\’ve been on bed rest, because of surgery or other factors, the earlier you get moving, the less likely blood clots will create.

Make lifestyle changes. Lose weight, quit smoking and control your blood pressure. Smoking and hypertension all increase your risk of deep vein thrombosis.

Wear compression stockings to help prevent blood clots in the legs if your doctor recommends them.

Numerous factors may increase the risks of and your danger of your chances and development of acquiring and suffering from deep vein thrombosis which include:

Sitting still immobile for long periods of time, such as when driving a highway tractor trailer truck or flying on a long intercontinental journey on a modern jet plane. When your legs still in position for long and extended period of time, your calf muscles don\’t get the veins pumping motions, which help blood flow and circulate normally. Although these stationary positions of sitting for long periods are overall a low risk factor, it all adds up together incrementally so that your chance or chances of developing deep vein thrombosis while flying or driving while relatively little can work together to exacerbate previous or inherited medical conditions of thrombosis.

On the other hand medical research has painted a picture where inherited blood clotting disorders are the most major focus. Some people have a propensity to inherit a medical condition that makes their blood in their veins and vessels clot much more easily. Hence since these folks blood liquids are more prone to gel up they are of greater concern and risks when it comes to deep vein thrombosis and the single term of single “thrombi clots”. Hence it’s not all people and specifically in this case truck drivers who must pay great attention and concern to DV Thrombosis. It’s only some. These are the people and patients who must pay heed to their inherited conditions and do all they can to reduce risk factors leading to problems and further worsening of their condition and conditions.

In the course of a person’s employment or in the case of medical treatments that involve extended bed rest or in treatments where the poor patient suffers paralysis the lying around immobile in a prone position in bed may make well matters much worse If you legs remain strictly in one position for extended periods of time your calf muscles are not exerted to work their pumping action which gets the blood to circulate. The pooled stagnant blood in the limbs is a recipe which can promote the creation and growth of blood clots. Exercise, motion and professional exercise physiotherapy as a treatment plan are the order of the day. A solid movement and exercise regime should and must be employed.

Injury or surgical procedure. Injury to your veins and vascular systems as well as some minor or even extreme surgical procedure can reduce and impair blood flow, raising the risk of blood clots. General anesthetics used in the coursework of surgical procedures can dilate your veins, which increases the risk of blood pooling and then subsequent clots and thrombi.

Cancer. It is true that some kinds of cancer growth the blood borne composition and concentrations of substances and hormones in your bloodstream can well cause incidences and the formation blood clots. This is well documented in the medical literature. Some forms of cancer treatment. Chemotherapy agents and therapies may also work to promote and increase the risk of blood clots.

Heart failure: this includes people who have congestive heart failure and those who have had
Heart attacks”. Not that long ago people who had heart attacks were routinely given long periods of bed rest. Not so today in 2011. It is now well known and appreciated that patients with heart failure are in overall substantial dangers of deep vein thrombosis because a damaged heart does not pump blood as effectively as a {standard regular heart does. As a result the concerns are that that blood will pool and clot. Thus the overall risks of thrombi and deep vein thrombus development are inherent risks and concerns.

One often unappreciated area – as this involves the benefits of medical therapy are hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills. Birth control pills (BCP or the Pill) as well as some commonly used hormone replacement therapies both can definitely work to increase your blood\’s power to clot and thus lead to the development and process of deep vein thrombosis. Ensure that both your physician and pharmacists are aware of your condition and medication that you may be prescribed for other reasons. Why have this overlooked unnecessarily?

It is wise to note that a simple standard pacemaker is in essence a narrow, flexible tube in a vein. Not only will pacemakers serve to narrow the lumen and decrease but flow but also these medical treatments can irritate the blood vessel wall and thus further decrease blood flow.

Look for a personal or family history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. If you\’ve had deep vein thrombosis before, no doubt you are in for more or your risk is greater than the average. It’s not a 100 % yet you’re more likely to have deep vein thrombosis in the future than the average “Joe”.

In the same way genetics plays a part. If you have a history in your family of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism pay heed. If someone in your relatives has had deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolism, your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis is raised.

Being fat and overweight increases the force in the veins in your pelvis areas and legs and in addition leads to slow blood flow and subsequent pooling. In the same way smoking tobacco products and cigarettes can only make things worse as well. The smoking of tobacco and even second hand tobacco smoke works to reduce blood flow and reduce blood flow circulation, resulting in pooling and clotting all of which can increase your risk of deep vein thrombosis.

There are any of a number of causes and conditions which can cause or exacerbate deep vein thrombosis. It may be environmental, in your family or medications that you are taking that can predispose or make this condition worse. As a long range trucker it behooves you both for your personal health and safety of your charge and your vehicle and your transported goods to both is aware of any causes or family history of this disorder and as well work to prevent the situation becoming worse. Take charge of your health to maintain your trucking driver’s license and livelihood in good continuing stead.

Author Bio: William Z. Piker Edmonton Fort Mc Murray Dodge Ram Trucks 1500 2500 3500 4500 Edmonton Dodge Ram 1500 Trucks Alberta\’s Largest Selection Lowest Prices New Used Trucks