Venous Thromboembolism: Know the Risks, Signs & Symptoms of Blood Clots
Know the Lingo About Blood Clots
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Blood clot located in a deep vein, usually in a leg or arm.
- Pulmonary embolism (PE): Blood clot that has traveled from a deep vein to a lung.
DVT and PE are also known as VTE (venous thromboembolism).
Blood Clots Affect Many People
- VTE affects as many as 900,000 Americans each year.
- As many as 100,000 people die of blood clots each year.
Everyone Is at Risk. Some Factors Can Increase This Risk.
- Hospitalization and Surgery – One-half of blood clots occur during or soon after a hospital stay or surgery.
- Being Immobile – Not moving for long periods of time (for example, extended bed rest or extended travel).
Other Risk Factors
- Older age
- Overweight or obese
- Family history of VTE
- Recent or recurrent cancer
- During and just after pregnancy
- Estrogen-based medicine such as hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy
- Injury and trauma
Know the Signs, Symptoms and Risk Factors
DVT Symptoms
- Swelling
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Redness of the skin
PE Symptoms
- Difficulty breathing
- Faster than normal or irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain or discomfort, which usually worsens with a deep breath or coughing
- Coughing up blood
- Very low blood pressure, lightheadedness, or fainting
What You Can Do to Prevent Death or Complications of a Blood Clot
- Know your risks and recognize symptoms.
- If you have any symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible. Blood clots can be safely treated by your doctor.
- Before any surgery, talk with your doctor about blood clots.
- Tell your doctor if you have risk factors for blood clots.
For more information, please visit: cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/index.html
