Skip banner links and go to contentU.S. Department of Health & Human Services * National Institutes of Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:  Diseases and Conditions Index
Tell us what you think about this site
  Enter keywords to search this site. (Click here for Search Tips)  
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services National Institutes of Health Diseases and Conditions Index NIH Home NHLBI Home About This Site NHLBI Home NHLBI Home Link to Spanish DCI Tell us what you think
 DCI Home: Blood Diseases: Deep Vein Thrombosis: Living With

      Deep Vein Thrombosis
Skip navigation and go to content
What Is ...
Other Names
Causes
Who Is At Risk
Signs & Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatments
Prevention
Living With
Key Points
Links
 

Living With Deep Vein Thrombosis

If you've had a deep vein blood clot, you're at greater risk for another one. During treatment and after, it's important to:

  • Take steps to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT). (See "How Can Deep Vein Thrombosis Be Prevented?")
  • Check your legs for signs and symptoms of DVT. These include swollen areas, pain or tenderness, increased warmth in swollen or painful areas, or red or discolored skin on the legs.
  • Contact your doctor right away if you have signs and symptoms of DVT.

Ongoing Health Care Needs

Medicines that thin your blood and prevent blood clots are used to treat DVT. These medicines can thin your blood too much and cause bleeding (sometimes inside the body). This side effect can be life threatening.

Bleeding may occur in the digestive system or the brain. Signs and symptoms of bleeding in the digestive system include:

  • Bright red vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
  • Bright red blood in your stools or black, tarry stools
  • Pain in your abdomen

Signs and symptoms of bleeding in the brain include:

  • Severe pain in your head
  • Sudden changes in your vision
  • Sudden loss of movement in your arms or legs
  • Memory loss or confusion

If you have any of these signs or symptoms, get treatment right away.

You also should seek treatment right away if you have a lot of bleeding after a fall or injury. This could be a sign that your DVT medicines have thinned your blood too much.

Talk to your doctor before taking any medicines other than your DVT medicines. This includes over-the-counter medicines. Aspirin, for example, also can thin your blood. Taking two medicines that thin your blood may raise your risk for bleeding.

Ask your doctor about how your diet affects these medicines. Foods that contain vitamin K can change how warfarin (a blood-thinning medicine used to treat DVT) works. Vitamin K is found in green, leafy vegetables and some oils, like canola and soybean oil. Your doctor can help you plan a balanced and healthy diet.

Discuss with your doctor whether drinking alcohol will interfere with your medicines. Your doctor can tell you what amount of alcohol is safe for you.


PreventionPrevious  NextKey Points


Email this Page Email all Sections Print all Sections Print all Sections of this Topic


Skip bottom navigation and go back to top
Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Blood Diseases | Heart and Blood Vessel Diseases | Lung Diseases | Sleep Disorders
NHLBI Privacy Statement | NHLBI Accessibility Policy
NIH Home | NHLBI Home | DCI Home | About DCI | Search
About NHLBI | Contact NHLBI

Note to users of screen readers and other assistive technologies: please report your problems here.