It’s estimated that 900,000 people in America experience deep vein thrombosis (DVT) every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One of the biggest problems relating to DVT is that, like many other diseases, it often goes undiagnosed or is misdiagnosed. But as the disease is highly treatable with natural methods, it’s crucial that individuals know how to recognize it and take action to reduce the risks associated with it.
Understanding DVT
DVT most commonly occurs as blood clots in the legs. It is the deep veins where the issue arises, and people experiencing DVT will typically have swelling and pain. Other common symptoms include warm skin, a heavy ache, and skin discoloration due to the blood not flowing as it should. There are many factors that contribute to DVT including your age, a family history of the disease, blood vessel damage, pregnancy, and taking some medications, including the contraceptive pill. A vein injury, leg surgery, and certain health conditions such as cancer and inflammatory bowel disease also increase your chances of a blood clot developing.
Lifestyle Risk Factors
There are many lifestyle factors that also play a part in the development of DVT. Thankfully, there are plenty of natural ways you can prevent it just by changing your daily habits. Research has found that if you’re under 40 years old and obese, you’re five times more likely to get DVT than someone who’s a healthy weight. As such, eating healthily, exercising, and getting your weight down to a healthy figure is advisable. Quitting smoking is also beneficial, as studies have found that smokers are 23 percent more likely to get a deep vein blood clot than non-smokers. Oral contraceptive use can also increase the risk of DVT by more than three percent in women of a healthy weight and 7.8 percent in obese females, so it’s worth considering alternative methods of contraception, especially if you’re overweight.
Preventing Complications
When DVT goes untreated, it can lead to pulmonary embolism (PE). This condition occurs when the blood clot separates from the vein. This is particularly risky as it can become stuck in an artery and stop blood from flowing to the lungs. If PE is suspected, urgent medical assistance should be sought. As this is a serious condition, you should think about the ways you can reduce the likelihood of blood clots forming on the deep veins in your legs. An effective way to do this is to add more herbs and spices into your diet. Ginger, turmeric and cayenne pepper all play a preventative role, while omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E can help too. Omega 3 fatty acids, for example, stop blood platelets forming together, and vitamin E thins the blood.
DVT is a fairly common illness that can become serious if left untreated. But if you take action to reduce your chances of developing a blood clot, then your chances of getting DVT are significantly reduced, and you won’t need to worry about how the disease could impact your life.
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Written By:
Jennifer Trent is a freelance writer and editor. As a former nutrition consultant, her specialist areas include health and nutrition. When not working she loves to read, travel and spend time with her young family.
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Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com