Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one such vascular condition that can remain undetected for a long time. Sometimes, people find out about DVT only after it becomes a medical emergency.
Deep vein thrombosis is found mostly in the veins of the legs due to the increased pressure on the lower body. In DVT, blood clots form inside the veins. If such blood clots form, there is a possibility of them detaching from the walls of the veins and entering the bloodstream. This can give rise to some dreadful complications, such as pulmonary embolism (PE), and hence must be treated as early as possible.
To save yourself from facing such a troublesome situation, you must keep a check on the following symptoms of deep vein thrombosis.
The most common symptoms of deep vein thrombosis in the initial stages are as follows:
- Warmth and pain around the affected skin
- The dark color of the skin affected with deep vein thrombosis
- Swelling in the legs
- Bulging twisted veins
- Soreness in the legs
A person suffering from a deep vein thrombosis may experience some or all of these symptoms at the same time.
There is nothing major to panic about if the condition is mild (initial stage). Home treatments and medications are mostly sufficient to dissolve the blood clots. Also, they help in preventing the formation of new blood clots.
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Most Effective Ways to Treat Deep Vein Thrombosis at Home
There are various things that you can do for DVT treatment. And most of the things are a part of your daily activities and lifestyle. We are listing a number of ways that will help to alleviate the pain caused by deep vein thrombosis and may also prevent the condition from advancing further.
*Note- You should know that home remedies are most helpful in managing the symptoms and providing relief from the pain only. These methods cannot cure the condition or eliminate the root cause of the problem.
Stay Hydrated
If you are dealing with the discomforting symptoms of deep vein thrombosis, drinking plenty of fluids becomes all the more important. Enough fluid and water intake prevents the thickening of the blood and facilitate healthy blood circulation. This, in turn, prevents new clots from forming and also helps in dissolving the existing blood clots.
Wear Compression Stockings
Graduated compression stockings are a special kind of stockings that have variable tightness at different points of the leg. Such stockings are tighter around the feet and gradually become loose as you move up towards the leg. Wearing graduated compression stockings helps maintain minimal pressure on the legs, just enough to prevent clotting of blood inside the veins.
Ginger is an effective remedy
Ginger brings about significant improvement in the case of deep vein thrombosis. It helps maintain the smooth flow of blood and also dissolves the fibrins that cause the blood to coagulate, thereby helping in dissolving the clots and alleviating the discomforts of DVT.
Use Cinnamon As Blood Thinner
Cinnamon contains a compound called coumarin, that acts as a natural anti-clotting agent. Owing to the benefits of coumarin, cinnamon is considered a great blood thinner and thus an effective remedy for deep vein thrombosis. Also, cinnamon prevents inflammation and aggravation of the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis.
Eat Tomatoes to Prevent Blood Clot Formation
Recent studies have shown that tomatoes can prevent the thickening of the blood, and thus preventing it from clumping together to form blood clots. The yellow fluid around the seeds of tomatoes is believed to bring a significant reduction in the stickiness of the blood. Researchers say that drinking about 1/4th of a pint of this extract (equivalent to eating 6 tomatoes) every day can help a great deal in deep vein thrombosis.
Add Garlic to Dissolve the Blood Clots
Garlic is one of the best home remedies for deep vein thrombosis. Garlic has natural anti-thrombotic properties and acts as a blood thinner, thereby preventing the blood clot from growing bigger. In addition to this, eating one garlic clove every morning also helps in dissolving the existing blood clot.
Keep Your Legs Elevated
The elevation is one of the key management tips while dealing with any vascular issue like deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, etc. Make sure to keep your legs slightly elevated and just let gravity do its work. This would enhance blood circulation in the legs and alleviate the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis.
Cayenne Pepper to Prevent Coagulation
Cayenne pepper is yet another amazing remedy for blood clots in the veins. Capsaicin present in cayenne peppers prevents the blood from coagulating. Also, cayenne pepper works wonderfully in dilating the blood vessels, thereby facilitating the clearing out of the blood clots present in the veins.
Vitamin E for Proper Blood Flow
Vitamin E nourishes the entire vascular system. It is very essential to ensure that you are taking sufficient amounts of vitamin E in your regular diet to dissolve existing blood clots and preventing new blood clots. Nuts, green leafy vegetables, and vegetable oils such as wheat germ oil, soybean oil are the best sources of vitamin E.
Monitor Your Blood Cholesterol Levels
High blood cholesterol levels can obstruct healthy blood flow and thus increase the risk of new blood clot formation. Therefore, if you are a cholesterol patient, discuss with your doctor and adopt necessary measures to keep your cholesterol levels in check.
Keep Your Legs Moving
Being a couch potato or a sloth is just not a healthy way to live. It can result in complications like DVT if accompanied by unhealthy eating habits. So, you need to ditch the inactive lifestyle and adopt a healthy and active one. Exercise regularly, perform yoga, go for a short walk, just don’t lead a sedentary mode of lifestyle.
Note- Along with home remedies it is better to consult a vascular specialist regarding medication. Doing so, enhances the chances of fast relief from DVT.
Take Your DVT Medicines as Prescribed
Your doctor may prescribe certain thrombolytics or clot-buster medications for dissolving the blood clots. Take your medicines on time and as prescribed by your doctor. Do not overdose and do not self-medicate in any case. If you notice anything abnormal, discuss it with your doctor without delay.
So, these were some of the things that you can do at home to cure deep vein thrombosis. Remember that if you find no improvement in the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis even after a few weeks of home treatment, immediately reach out to the doctor.
Sometimes, due to various body or genetic factors, you might not witness any relief without a doctor’s assessment.
What to do when home treatment for deep vein thrombosis does not work?
The effectiveness of a treatment depends solely upon the severity of the deep vein thrombosis. In the initial stages, medications like thrombolytics and clot-busters may suffice as mentioned earlier. But in severe cases, oral medication may not work for DVT.
In such cases, surgery is required. The two major surgical procedures for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis are thrombectomy and laser surgery.
Laser surgery is the more advanced and thus more preferred surgery for DVT. In laser treatment, the surgeon uses pulses of laser energy to dissolve the blood clot in the vein. The procedure does not involve any major incisions or cuts and minimal pain. There is minimal bleeding involved and the entire treatment procedure is absolutely safe.
The recovery is very fast and smooth. Within a week, you can resume your normal routine life. Thus, laser surgery can help you get rid of DVT without any hassles, provided that you seek medical treatment in time. Delaying treatment can make the condition worse and increase the complexity of the treatment procedures, along with the risk of complications. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor as soon as the symptoms start surfacing.
Pristyn Care offers modern laser treatment for deep vein thrombosis. So if you are looking for the best treatment of deep vein thrombosis, Pristyn Care is just the right place for you.
The Bottom Line
Dealing with deep vein thrombosis is understandably tough and requires proper attention. Staying active, and eating healthy balanced diet is the best way to stay from problems like damaged veins and deep vein thrombosis.
And if you are already struggling with the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis, the first thing to do is to consult a vascular specialist and undergo proper treatment. Timely treatment will save you from the serious complications of deep vein thrombosis. Therefore, prioritize your health and lead a trouble-free life.
You can get in touch with us at Pristyn Care for consulting with the best vascular specialists. All you need to do is book your appointment online and we’ll take care of the rest.
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