What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Blood clots can arise anywhere in your body. They develop when blood thickens and clumps together. When a clot forms in a vein deep in the body, it's called Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Deep vein blood clots typically occur in the lower leg or thigh. But if your symptoms stem from a blood clot deep in your leg, it can be dangerous. Blood clots can happen to anyone, anytime. But some people are at increased risk. Therefore, they should immediately consult with vein specialist to avoid blood clot forming in the veins which can help avoid potentially serious problems.

DVT Symptoms:

"Deep vein thrombosis has classic symptoms - for example, swelling, pain, warmth, and redness on the leg," says Dr. Rajendra Bansal, a DVT treatment expert in Jaipur.  But about 30 40% of cases go unnoticed since they don't have typical symptoms.  In fact, some people don't realize they have a deep vein clot until it causes a more serious condition.

Deep Vein Clots:

DVT symptoms include deep vein clots - especially those in the thigh - can break off and travel through the bloodstream. If a clot lodges in an artery in the lungs, it can block blood flow and lead to a sometimes-deadly condition called pulmonary embolism. This disorder can damage the lungs and reduce blood oxygen levels, which can harm other organs as well.

Some people are more at risk for deep vein thrombosis than others. "Usually people who develop deep vein thrombosis have some level of thrombophilia, which means their blood clots more rapidly or easily," Dr. Bansal says, a DVT specialist in Jaipur. Getting a blood clot is usually the first sign of this condition because it s hard to notice otherwise. In these cases, lifestyle can contribute to a blood clot forming if you don t move enough, for example. Your risk is higher if you ve recently had surgery or broken a bone if you re ill and in bed for a long time, or if you're traveling for a long time (such as during long car or airplane rides).

Other Symptoms:

Having other diseases or conditions can also raise your chances of a blood clot. These include a stroke, paralysis (an inability to move), chronic heart disease, high blood pressure, surgical procedure, or having been recently treated for cancer. Women who take hormone therapy pills or birth control pills are pregnant, or within the first 6 weeks after giving birth are also at higher risk. So are those who smoke or who are older than 60. But deep vein thrombosis can happen at any age.

Chronic vs Acute DVT:

Chronic DVT refers to long-standing venous thrombosis present for more than 28 days.  It can either permanently block the vein or it can adhere to the wall of the vein.  Chronic DVT that doesn t block the vein can still cause long-term problems known as Post Thrombotic syndrome which occurs due to pooling of blood in legs by gravity as the protective valves are damaged or destroyed. Patient symptoms are:

Leg swelling after standing for long periods
Aching pain
Varicose veins
Skin ulcers in severe cases.
Acute DVT refers to venous thrombosis for which symptoms have been present for 14 days or less. The symptoms of acute DVT are sudden limb swelling and pain. During this period the clot is soft and easily treated with clot-dissolving drugs. The period between 14-28 days is called Sub-acute DVT.

Clues of a Clot:

Seek DVT treatment if you have these symptoms. They may signal a deep vein clot or pulmonary embolism:

Swelling of the leg or along a vein in the leg
Pain or tenderness in the leg, which you may feel only when standing or walking
Increase in warmth in the area of the leg that s swollen or painful
Red or discolored skin on the leg
Unexplained shortness of breath
Pain with deep breathing
Coughing up blood
A prompt diagnosis and a proper DVT treatment can help prevent the complications of blood clots. See your doctor immediately if you have any signs or symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. A physical exam and other tests can help doctors determine whether you ve got a blood clot.

Your doctor will diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT) based on your medical history, a physical exam, and the color Doppler ultrasound or sometime may require CT or MRI. He or she will identify your risk factors and rule out other causes of your symptoms. After analyzing the risk factors, the doctor will tell you whether you need an immediate DVT treatment or not.

DVT Treatment

There are many ways in Deep Vein Thrombosis treatment. DVT treatment process includes medicines, certain devices, and therapies. The main goals of DVT treatment include:

Stopping the blood clot from getting bigger
To dissolve the already formed clot
Preventing the blood clot from breaking off and moving to your lungs
Reducing your chance of having another blood clot
To prevent long-term complication known as Post Thrombotic Syndrome.
Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners):

These are the most common medicines in DVT treatment. These medicines decrease your blood s ability to clot. They also stop existing blood clots from getting bigger. However, blood thinners can t break up blood clots that have already formed. (The body dissolves most blood clots with time.)

Blood thinners are taken either as a pill, an injection under the skin, or through a needle or tube inserts into a vein (called intravenous or IV injection). There are different types of  Blood thinner. The choice of anticoagulant depends upon multiple factors, including the preference of the patient and the healthcare provider, the patient s medical history and other conditions, and cost considerations.

Initial anticoagulation is continued for 5 to 10 days. After that, long-term anticoagulation is continued for 3 to 12 months depending upon the patient profile, length of vessel involvement and risk of recurrence. In some patient where permanent risk factor like a congenital cause or cancer lifelong anticoagulation may require.

Other available treatments, which are for specific situations, include thrombolytic therapy or placing a filter in a major blood vessel (the inferior vena cava).

Thrombolysis (Clot-Busting DVT Treatment):

Minimally invasive procedures in DVT treatment are performed by an interventional radiologist under X-ray Guidance, if a patient has severe pain, difficulty in walking, significant swelling while on blood thinners, or if there is clot blocking the pelvic veins (iliac veins).  When performed early, thrombolysis is highly effective at dissolving a clot and preserving the valves in the veins.

It is designed to rapidly break up the clot, restore blood flow within the vein, and potentially preserve valve function to minimize the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome. The interventional radiologist inserts a tiny tube called catheter into the vein behind the knee or other leg vein and threads it into the vein containing the clot using x-ray guidance. The catheter tip is placed into the clot and a  clot-busting  drug is infused directly to the thrombus (clot) followed by clot removal by special devices. The fresher the clot, the faster it dissolves   one to two days. Clinical resolution of pain and swelling and restoration of blood flow in the vein is greater than 85 percent with these invasive techniques.  In patients in whom thrombolysis or blood thinners are not medically appropriate, an interventional radiologist can insert a vena cava filter, a small device that functions as an umbrella to capture blood clots that would float to the lung, but allows normal liquid blood to pass.

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS PREVENTION:

You can take simple steps to lower your chances for a blood clot:

Exercise your lower leg muscles if you re sitting for a long time while traveling.
Get out of bed and move around as soon as you re able after having surgery or being ill.
The more active you are, the better your chance of avoiding a blood clot.
Take any medicines your doctor prescribes to prevent clots after some types of surgery.
Wear compression stocking to prevent complication or recurrence as per instruction.
Keep regular follow-up with your doctor to avoid or prevent post DVT complication.
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS:

Patients being treated for venous thrombosis are at an increased risk for developing another blood clot. The patient should watch for new onset leg pain or swelling. If these symptoms occur, the patient should speak to his/her health care provider or seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Risk of bleeding is high with anticoagulant so dose should not change unless the provider or clinic directs the patient to do so.
Patients may bleed easily from anywhere while taking anticoagulants. In some cases, bleeding can develop inside the body and can t notice immediately. Bleeding inside the body can cause a person to feel faint, or have pain in the back or abdomen. A healthcare provider should be notified immediately if there is any sign of this problem.

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - Symptoms,Treatment & Prevention

The CAD (Coronary Artery Disease) is a condition where the blood flow in your arteries is impaired. This happens when the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart are damaged. As a result, plaque builds up in the arteries and the blood flow to the heart is decreased.

This will eventually lead to chest pain or angina and other symptoms. If the arteries are blocked completely, you may suffer a heart attack later on. It is one of the leading causes of death and heart attacks all over the world.

What are the causes of CAD?

The CAD may be caused due to an injury to the inner part of the coronary artery. This may be due to the following factors  

High blood pressure and cholesterol

Smoking

An unhealthy or sedentary lifestyle

Diabetes

If the inner wall of the artery is damaged, deposits made of cholesterol and other cellular wastes are collected in the region. The process is called atherosclerosis. If this plaque surface breaks, the platelets in your blood will try to fix the artery. In the process, these platelets are accumulated in the area. Too much accumulation can block the artery.

As the arteries are responsible for providing oxygen-rich blood to your heart, blockage in the region will lead to a heart attack.

Moreover, Coronary Artery Disease may be caused if you have a family history of heart diseases. It is more likely to occur when you are over 65 years of age. Factors such as obesity and high levels of stress can also lead to this condition. 

Symptoms

The common symptom of Coronary Artery Disease is angina or pain in the chest. However, the condition may be accompanied by other symptoms, like  

Tightness, heaviness, burning or a squeezing sensation in the chest

Sweating

Dizziness

Shortness of breath followed by extreme fatigue

Pain in the arms, shoulders or the back

Severe pressure in the shoulders and arms that lead to heart attack

The angina symptoms are commonly misunderstood as symptoms of indigestion. Be aware and seek medical assistance immediately.

Treating CAD with Ayurveda 

The following Ayurvedic herbs are helpful for preventing the deposits of harmful fats in your blood vessels  

Guggulu

Chandraprabha Vati

Combination of herbs like Amlaki, Arjuna, Punarnava, Kutki and Triphala

Another important treatment procedure for the disease, as prescribed by Ayurveda, is meditation. Meditating for about 20 minutes every day will help you relax and calm your nerves. It will help you enhance your mental health and happiness. This will keep your heart healthy.

This prevents the body from forming angiotensin is a hormone that causes your blood vessels to get smaller which increases your blood pressure. This baeltablet helps in Lower angiotensin levels, then help widen your blood vessels and let your blood flow more easily this reduces your blood pressure. This Bell tablet helps in blocking the effects of angiotensin on your heart which helps in lowering your blood pressure and these roots helps in preventing blood clots from forming, some do this from making substances called clotting factors and others keep the clotting factors from working or preventing other chemicals from forming so that clots cannot develop. What is most important is that all these herbs help in dissolving existing plaque. This drug also works as thromboxane it prevents platelet to stick together to form a clot.

You can also opt for Panchkarma therapy that is a rejuvenating experience consisting of massages and steam baths. High cholesterol is effectively treated using this therapy. 

To prevent risks of CAD, you must exercise regularly and avoid consuming foods high in fats and sugar. Reduce the amount of preserved foods. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetable daily. Furthermore, get plenty of sleep and stop consuming alcohol or cigarettes to stay healthy.

CAD (Blockage In Arteries) - How Can Ayurveda Handle It?

The heart pumps pure blood to all parts of the body through a network of arteries. These are thicker in the beginning and become finer and thinner as they reach the various organs. These arteries are lined by a layer of epithelial tissues and as blood flows through them, the heavier cholesterol / fat molecules settle down along the walls. 


This attracts more and more fat molecules to settle down.  This is known as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Over a period of time, the vessels circumference reduces and the blood supply to the target organ reduces. This impacts proper functioning of these organs and when this happens to the major organs like the heart, kidney or the brain, conditions like stroke or thrombosis or heart attack can occur.


This condition, known as coronary artery disease, is becoming a major cause of deaths.  While that is the bad news, the good news is that it is largely lifestyle dependent, and if steps are taken, it can be prevented, and in the early stages, the damage completely reversed.


Preventive measures: 
1. Diet: A low-fat, high-fiber, heart-healthy diet consisting of Omega-3 fatty acids is recommended by doctors, especially to people who are prone to develop heart disease.  This also requires reduced salt, increased unsaturated fats, reduced triglycerides and reduced sugar.  Include loads of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds and fish oils. Include multivitamins or other supplements after checking with your doctor.


2. Exercise:  Regular exercise in any form increases the efficiency of the circulatory system, keeps the cholesterol levels in check and helps in blood pressure management.  Exercise in any form is advisable, based on individual preference. A moderate physical activity of 30 to 45 minutes per day is advisable.


3. Smoking: This is one of the major risk factors for smoking, and quitting or controlling smoking is one of the best methods to prevent coronary artery disease.


4. Alcohol consumption:  While moderate alcohol consumption is believed to be healthy for the heart, excessive alcohol consumption is a strict no-no.  Binge drinking especially is shown to cause heart attacks.


5. Weight management: Check with your doctor on what is ideal BMI for you and work out a plan to keep your weight under check.


6. Regular medications: If you are on blood pressure or diabetes medications, ensure you do not miss them.  Keep a constant check to ensure your readings are managed well. 


7. Watch out:  Ask your doctor if there are specific symptoms that you need to watch out and seek medical support if you see any of them.


Coronary disease is not treatable fully, but can be prevented and managed effectively to improve the overall quality of life.

Coronary Artery Disease - 7 Ways You Can Prevent it 

Coronary artery disease or CAD is the name given to the heart condition in which the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients, also called coronary arteries, get blocked, damaged or diseased.

Blockages usually happen when cholesterol-containing deposits called plaque deposit in your arteries. Plaque narrows the lumen of your coronary artery which means your heart gets lesser and lesser oxygen and nutrients to function properly.
Inflammation is also to blame for coronary artery disease.
Common symptoms of CAD include

Angina or pain in the chest
Shortness of breath
If the blockage is complete, you can get a heart attack.
Common Diagnostic tests
When you go to a heart specialist, she will ask questions about your medical history and follow it up with a physical exam and order routine blood and diagnostic tests to confirm CAD like:

Electrocardiogram (ECG): An ECG records electrical signals as they travel through your heart revealing evidence of a previous heart attack or one that s happening. Holter monitoring is a type of ECG where you wear a portable monitor for 24 hours as you go about your normal daily activities. Abnormalities in the results suggest reduced blood flow to the heart signaling CAD.
Echocardiogram: This test uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. It helps your doctor determine whether all parts of your heart wall are contributing to your heart's pumping activity. If certain parts are moving weakly it can mean damage to muscle due to a heart attack or because of receiving too little oxygen- again signaling CAD.
Exercise Stress test: This test is done by making you do exercises like walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike during an ECG. Sometimes, medication to stimulate your heart may be used instead of exercise.
This again detects areas in your heart that receive less blood flow.

Cardiac catheterization or angiogram. A special dye is injected into your coronary arteries to observe blood flow through your heart in a test known as an angiogram.
The dye is sometimes also injected into the arteries through a long, thin, flexible tube called catheter that is threaded through an artery in your leg to the arteries in your heart. This procedure is called cardiac catheterization. This test is very good in diagnosing CAD as the dye outlines narrow spots and blockages on the X-ray images of your heart.
Heart scans. Computerized tomography or CT can help your doctor actually see calcium deposits in your arteries that can be narrowing your arteries. If a substantial amount of calcium deposits are found, coronary artery disease could be the reason.
MRI scans are also done to diagnose CAD.

Common Tests For Coronary Artery Disease!

Varicose veins are a condition marked by enlarged or gnarled veins. This typically affects the veins in the feet and legs. In most cases, varicose veins are a mere cosmetic concern but in some cases, it can be quite uncomfortable and painful. If left untreated, it can also lead to further complications.

Varicose veins may be caused by a lack of elasticity in the veins causing blood to pool in them and flow backwards. This blood is deoxygenated and hence the veins appear blue. Women have a higher risk of suffering from varicose veins as compared to men. This risk also increases with age and weight. Pregnancy can also cause varicose veins. 

The most common symptoms of this condition are:

Visible veins just under the surface of the skin
Veins that appear blue and gnarled
A dull ache in the legs
Throbbing or burning sensation in the calves
Pain in the legs that worsens after standing or sitting in the same position for a long time
Itching around the veins
Bleeding veins
Inflammation of the skin or ulcers around the ankles
Red or blue spider veins
What steps to maintain once you have undergone the sugery

Keeping the legs raised or wear compression stockings can relieve the pain associated with varicose veins and prevent the condition from worsening. 
Exercise can also help improve blood circulation. If these home remedies are not effective, the patient may need to consult a doctor.
Women with a family history of varicose veins should also avoid wearing high heels and tight stockings.
Complications caused by varicose veins are rare. However, some people may experience bleeding on the surface of the skin. There are chances that the veins deep inside the muscle may get twisted which may lead to the swelling of the calf muscles. Varicose veins may also cause painful ulcers around the ankles and is a result of the buildup of fluid around the ankles.

All the complication must be reported to the doctor at the earliest to prevent the condition from worsening.

Varicose Veins - Know The Signs Of The Condition!

An unhealthy diet is an absolute no in daily life to remain healthy, fit and without any disease. Unhealthy diets fail to give the body the correct amounts and varieties of proteins and nutrients for a maximum proper health.
Too many intakes of calories lead to an unhealthy diet, which also increases blood pressure. It leads to a very poor calorie ratio-to-nutrient that leads to gain weight and also leads to malnutrition along with various health problems. Unhealthy diets cause chronic disease, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Therefore, unhealthy eating habits should be avoided and strongly abandoned.

Why Avoid Unhealthy Diet?

It causes obesity. Increased intake of nutrient-dense foods like fruits, sugar, processed carbohydrates and animal fat leads to obesity.
Nutrient deficiency is another harmful effect of following an unhealthy diet.
Illness is another factor. Poor intake of nutrition leads to diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Lack of calcium weakens the bones, lack of vitamin A and C suppress the body immune system leaving a person vulnerable to diseases.
Increases the risk of coronary artery disease as unhealthy diet contributes to building up of plaque in the coronary arteries which can cause heart attacks.
Coronary Heart Disease - A Serious Issue!
It is a disease which leads to plaque building inside the coronary arteries, which supply rich oxygen blood to the human heart muscle. Over time the plaques either hardened or get ruptured and hardened plaque restricts the coronary arteries, which reduce the oxygen flow to the heart. On the other hand, if the plaque is ruptured blood is formed on its surface which also narrows the coronary artery and restricts the blood flow. And if the blood flow is blocked or reduced, then it might lead to Angina and heart attacks leading to loss of life. Angina causes chest pain it can also cause pain in the neck, back or arms. It is a state where one gets a feeling of indigestion.

Outlook
Changes in lifestyle, eating habits, intake of medicines and its procedures helps to prevent this disease. These steps can also reduce the chances of health problems. Therefore, a proper healthy diet is a must in a person s routine because it serves as one of the links to coronary heart diseases. In order to live long, live healthily and live happily one needs to adopt a good eating habit, take care of the medicines they intake, certain input time of exercise, change the monotonous lifestyle to lessen down the chances of their occurrence. Adopting healthy food habits also enables the body to fight against diseases and infections, reducing the rate of illness. It also reduces stress and provides a good healthy and happy life.

Unhealthy Diet - How It Is Related With Coronory Heart Disease?

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