by Gail Cureton
Tricare Management Activity
Yet few people have heard of Deep Vein Thrombosis. DVT has been dubbed the "economy-class syndrome" because of its association with long flights in cramped conditions; however, it can also strike first-class passengers. It has been known to afflict travelers on long journeys in cars, trucks, buses and trains, and also affects injured persons who are immobile for long periods of time.
Often the symptoms for DVT are subtle and can sometimes be mistaken for muscle strains, skin rashes or inflammation in the veins. Left untreated, DVT may cause severe or fatal complications such as pulmonary embolism, or blood clotting in the lungs.
Immobility coupled with genetics contributed to NBC journalist David Bloom's death in 2003 at age 39. While embedded with the Army's Third Infantry Division in Iraq, the veteran reporter -- and the Soldiers whose stories he told -- spent long periods of time riding in a cramped tank with little ability to move.
"Two nights before his death, David called on a satellite phone," wife Melanie Bloom recounted. "He told me he was having some pain in his legs, but that it wasn't anything to worry about."
The seemingly insignificant pain was in fact a warning sign.
Anyone may develop DVT, but there are conditions that place some at higher risk including:
-- Immobility or poor mobility;
-- Surgery that lasts more than 30 minutes;
-- Health conditions that cause the blood to clot more easily than normal;
-- Contraceptive pills and hormone replacement therapy;
-- Cancer or heart failure;
-- Pregnancy (about 1 in 1,000 pregnant women have DVT); and
-- Obesity.
Nearly half of all people diagnosed with DVT have no symptoms; however, there are some warning signs that require immediate attention. Contact your health care provider if you notice:
-- Pain, redness, tenderness, or sudden swelling in one leg;
-- Skin that is warm to the touch in one leg;
-- Unexplained shortness of breath;
-- Chest pain or rapid heart rate; and/or
-- Coughing up blood.
For more information on DVT, visit http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Dvt/DVT_WhatIs.html. (Courtesy of Air Force Print News)