People who sit for long periods in the office should be alert to the "silent killer" - deep vein thrombosis (DVT). During the winter vacation, Xiao Wang had nothing to do and spent his days at the Internet cafe. One day, after being online all night, he suddenly felt a swelling in his right calf. Initially, he thought it was due to sitting for too long and didn't take it seriously. However, by the next morning, his entire right leg had swollen up like an eggplant, with noticeable pain.
In cold weather, Aunt Wang and her husband reduced their outdoor activities and often passed time at the mahjong parlor. One evening after playing mahjong, Aunt Wang felt heaviness and swelling in her left leg, along with some pulling pain, but she didn't pay much attention. The next morning, when she got up, she found her left leg had swelled significantly compared to her right leg, turned purple, and she couldn't walk. After examination, both were diagnosed with lower extremity deep vein thrombosis.
So, what exactly is lower extremity deep vein thrombosis? And who are the people prone to DVT?
Dean Zhao Yujie of the Shanxi Yikang Peripheral Vascular Hospital introduced: Lower extremity deep vein thrombosis is a condition that occurs in the deep veins of the lower limbs. Due to certain factors within the blood vessels, the blood coagulates, blocking the vessel and causing obstruction to blood return, leading to corresponding clinical symptoms.
The following five groups of people should be highly vigilant about the formation of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis:
1. Blood stasis sufferers - Long-term bedridden patients, those with lower limb injuries, post-surgery patients, and those who travel long distances by plane or car are high-risk groups. Their venous blood stagnates, the endothelium of the venous system is damaged, and the blood is in a hypercoagulable state, making them most susceptible. If such patients experience symptoms like chest tightness, shortness of breath, chest pain, hemoptysis, or fainting, they should be highly alert to the possibility of pulmonary embolism.
2. Elderly individuals - In elderly people, the vascular endothelial cells produce more pro-coagulant substances and fewer anti-thrombotic substances. They often have conditions like arteriosclerosis and diabetes. Their physical strength is weak, they prefer staying indoors, especially during autumn and winter when outdoor activities decrease, which are important reasons for the elderly having a tendency towards thrombosis.
3. Pregnant women - In late pregnancy, the blood volume physiologically increases, the venous vessels dilate, and the blood flow velocity decreases. The enlarged uterus compresses the iliac veins and inferior vena cava, causing lower extremity venous blood stasis. Starting from the middle of pregnancy, clotting factors increase to varying degrees, reaching a peak at delivery. Although this physiological compensatory reaction helps stop bleeding quickly after delivery, it also increases the incidence of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis.
4. Cancer patients - Studies show that patients with lower extremity deep vein thrombosis may have underlying tumors, and the formation of clots could be an early symptom of malignant tumors. Many tumor cells secrete pro-coagulant active substances, which can initiate the patient's internal coagulation cascade. Of course, surgery and post-operative bed rest are also reasons why cancer patients are prone to lower extremity deep vein thrombosis.
5. People with high blood viscosity - Patients with coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes are prone to thrombus formation due to increased platelets or clotting factors, reduced fibrinolytic activity, and increased blood coagulation. Long-term bedridden patients, those with heart failure, tumors pressing on veins, varicose veins, and venous aneurysms have slow blood flow, and platelets tend to aggregate on the vessel walls, forming clots.
Dean Zhao reminds all "couch potatoes" to exercise more to prevent the occurrence of venous thrombosis. Except for trauma-induced venous thrombosis, slow blood flow and poor drainage are the main causes of venous thrombosis. Therefore, maintaining smooth blood flow and avoiding factors that slow down blood flow is key to preventing venous thromboembolism and the simplest preventive measure that ordinary people can grasp. Specifically, one should avoid prolonged bed rest and immobility of the lower limbs. According to foreign literature, regular exercise can reduce the incidence of thrombosis, lowering it by 39% in women and 22% in men.
Additionally, people who operate computers for long periods and those who need to sit on planes, cars, trains, or ships for extended periods (more than six hours) should be highly vigilant about the occurrence of venous thrombosis. Note the following four points:
(1) Wear loose clothing and socks, especially ensuring that clothes around the lower limbs or waist are not too tight.
(2) Get up and walk around every so often, frequently doing full-body exercises, particularly leg activities like ankle rotations.
(3) Drink plenty of water, avoid smoking, and steer clear of alcoholic or caffeinated beverages.
(4) Seek medical attention promptly if there is swelling in the lower limbs.
It is particularly emphasized that if swelling occurs in the lower limbs, especially on one side, one should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Delayed diagnosis and treatment may lead to pulmonary embolism, which has a very high mortality rate, and possibly post-thrombotic syndrome, affecting lower limb function. For unexplained or sudden respiratory distress, one should be alert to the possibility of pulmonary embolism and seek medical attention promptly.
Office workers who sit for long periods should be wary of the "silent killer" - deep vein thrombosis. The above information is a detailed introduction provided by experts regarding the prevention of deep vein thrombosis for office workers who sit for long periods. It is hoped that this will be helpful. For more questions, you can consult the experts at Shanxi Yikang Peripheral Vascular Hospital online. Finally, wishing you good health.
For more details, visit the Venous Thrombosis section of the Shanxi Yikang Peripheral Vascular Hospital website: http://www.sxykmgy.com/jingmaixueshuan/ or consult the experts for free. The experts will provide detailed answers based on the patient's specific situation.
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Causes of Venous Thrombosis: http://www.sxykmgy.com/jmxsby/
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Prevention and Care for Venous Thrombosis: http://www.sxykmgy.com/jmxsyf/
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Case Studies of Venous Thrombosis Treatment: http://www.sxykmgy.com/jmxsbl/
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