woman being evaluated by medical provider for deep vein thrombosis

Early detection and treatment of DVT can prevent complications

A thrombus is a blood clot that develops in your heart or a blood vessel. When thrombosis occurs in one of the large veins buried deep in your body, you have a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a form of peripheral vascular disease. DVT typically forms in the thigh and lower leg but can also form in the arm and pelvis.

Over time, DVT can cause a condition known as post-thrombotic syndrome, in which the DVT damages blood vessels and causes long-term swelling, pain, ulcers and physical disability.

An untreated DVT can break off and travel through the bloodstream and enter the lungs. If the clot is large enough, it can prevent blood from reaching the lungs, cause dangerously low oxygen levels and can even be fatal.

Knowing the symptoms and risk factors of DVT can help you identify and get treatment for these blood clots early.

DVT symptoms

DVT may not cause noticeable symptoms. If you experience symptoms, they affect the area near the leg vein, arm or other area with the blood clot. Symptoms of DVT include:

  • Pain
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Tenderness
  • Severe headache

When DVT moves to the lungs, symptoms may include:

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Blood when you cough
close up of vital sign monitor during a deep vein thrombosis surgery

What causes deep vein thrombosis?

Anything that slows or changes your blood flow can cause blood to clot and cause a DVT to form. Reasons your blood may clot include:

  • Being on long-term bed rest
  • Giving birth
  • Having surgery
  • Sitting in the same position for long periods
  • Using estrogen or birth control pills
  • Smoking or using tobacco products

Deep vein thrombosis risk factors

DVT affects people of all ages, ethnicities and socioeconomic status. You may be at higher risk due to:

  • Age: Most cases occur in adults after age 60.
  • Limited movement: This often occurs with injury, paralysis, prolonged bed rest or air travel.
  • Certain medical conditions: Heart disease, lung disease, cancer, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), and lupus are among the medical conditions that increase your risk of blood clots.
  • Family history: You may inherit a predisposition for blood clots and DVT.
  • Injury or surgery: Fractures or surgeries involving the hip, knee or pelvis can cause blood clots.
  • Smoking: Tobacco smoke causes blood cells to become sticky and form clots. It also damages blood vessels and increases the formation of blood clots.

Detecting and diagnosing DVT

Diagnosing DVT starts with a discussion of your medical history and a physical exam. Your provider will ask about pain, swelling and other symptoms you’ve experienced, and they may order one or more of the following diagnostic tests:

Blood test

Blood tests can demonstrate if your blood produces clots and measure for specific protein levels or genetic markers that might increase your risk for clotting.

Imaging test

Imaging tests like venography and duplex ultrasounds allow doctors to see through deep veins and arteries. CT scans can also be helpful in certain situations.

DVT treatment

​​​​​​​​​​​​​DVT treatment may involve medication or surgery.

Blood thinners

Blood thinners, also known as anticoagulants, are designed to prevent blood clots from forming.

Clot busters

Clot busters work to dissolve blood clots that have already formed.

Compression socks

Compression socks apply pressure to your lower legs, helping to maintain blood flow and reduce discomfort and swelling.

Surgery and procedures

Surgical procedures include:

  • Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy is a procedure in which a thin, flexible tube is used to help break up, dissolve or suck out a blood clot.
  • Surgical venous thrombectomy is a more invasive surgical procedure used to grab and remove the blood clot.
  • An inferior vena cava filter is an implanted device to help capture or filter blood clots before they can reach the heart or lungs.

After treatment, your vascular surgeon will monitor you to reduce the chances that you’ll develop another DVT. You can help prevent another blood clot by:

  • Attending all your follow-up visits and having follow-up blood tests and ultrasound scans
  • Taking medications as directed
  • Wearing compression stockings if your provider recommends doing so

Find a location near you

Our vascular specialists are available at Baylor Scott & White locations throughout North and Central Texas, so you can find a location close to home that makes attending follow-up visits easy and convenient.

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AccentCare - Fort Worth

AccentCare - Fort Worth

3880 Hulen St , Fort Worth, TX, 76107

763.3 mi Directions
Call 817.796.7160
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Idabel, OK

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Idabel, OK

4 SE Avenue A , Idabel, OK, 74745

774.8 mi Directions
Call 580.208.2700
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Mt Pleasant (Satellite)

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Mt Pleasant (Satellite)

1011 N Jefferson Ave , Mt Pleasant, TX, 75455

812.1 mi Directions
Call 903.717.8816
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Paris

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Paris

875 S Collegiate Dr , Paris, TX, 75462

817.2 mi Directions
Call 903.785.8857
Baylor Scott & White Cardiac Surgery - Longview

Baylor Scott & White Cardiac Surgery - Longview

906 Judson Rd , Longview, TX, 75601

831.3 mi Directions
Call 469.800.7760
Baylor Scott & White Liver Consultants of Texas - Longview

Baylor Scott & White Liver Consultants of Texas - Longview

906 Judson Rd , Longview, TX, 75601

831.3 mi Directions
Call 214.820.8500
Closed
  • Monday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
  • Thursday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
  • Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Longview

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Longview

906 Judson Rd , Longview, TX, 75601

831.3 mi Directions
Call 877.634.0028
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Sulphur Springs

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Sulphur Springs

601 Airport Rd Ste 110, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75482

841.5 mi Directions
Call 903.885.3059
Baylor Scott & White North Texas Colon and Rectal Associates - Sulphur Springs

Baylor Scott & White North Texas Colon and Rectal Associates - Sulphur Springs

601 Airport Rd Ste 110, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75482

841.6 mi Directions
Call 469.800.7600
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Tyler

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Tyler

1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701

863.3 mi Directions
Call 877.634.0028
Baylor Scott & White Center for Advanced Surgery - Tyler

Baylor Scott & White Center for Advanced Surgery - Tyler

1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701

863.3 mi Directions
Call 972.817.6050
Baylor Scott & White Liver Consultants of Texas - Tyler

Baylor Scott & White Liver Consultants of Texas - Tyler

1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701

863.3 mi Directions
Call 214.820.8500
Baylor Scott & White North Texas Colon and Rectal Associates - Tyler

Baylor Scott & White North Texas Colon and Rectal Associates - Tyler

1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701

863.3 mi Directions
Call 469.800.7600
Baylor Scott & White Center for Thoracic Surgery - Tyler

Baylor Scott & White Center for Thoracic Surgery - Tyler

1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75702

863.3 mi Directions
Call 469.800.7370
Baylor Scott & White Cardiac Surgery - Tyler

Baylor Scott & White Cardiac Surgery - Tyler

1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701

863.3 mi Directions
Call 469.800.7760
Touchstone Imaging Tyler

Touchstone Imaging Tyler

2019 Old Troup Hwy , Tyler, TX, 75701

863.3 mi Directions
Call 903.526.6736
Baylor Scott & White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital

Baylor Scott & White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital

1814 Roseland Blvd Ste 100, Tyler, TX, 75701

863.8 mi Directions
Call 903.525.3300
Glen Oaks Hospital

Glen Oaks Hospital

301 Division St , Greenville, TX, 75401

864.7 mi Directions
Call 903.454.6000
Baylor Scott & White Surgical Hospital - Sherman

Baylor Scott & White Surgical Hospital - Sherman

3601 N Calais St , Sherman, TX, 75090

866.9 mi Directions
Call 903.870.0999
Baylor Scott & White Urgent Care+ Sherman

Baylor Scott & White Urgent Care+ Sherman

4028 N Hwy 75 , Sherman, TX, 75090

867.2 mi Directions
Call 903.375.0800
Closed
  • Monday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
  • Saturday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Sunday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital Urgent Care - Tyler

Baylor Scott & White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital Urgent Care - Tyler

8101 S Broadway Ave , Tyler, TX, 75703

867.4 mi Directions
Call 903.939.0920
Closed
  • Monday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
  • Saturday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Texas Vascular Associates - Greenville

Texas Vascular Associates - Greenville

4400 Interstate 30 Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402

868.2 mi Directions
Call 972.665.9100
Baylor Scott & White Spine & Scoliosis Center - Greenville

Baylor Scott & White Spine & Scoliosis Center - Greenville

4400 I-30 W Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402

868.2 mi Directions
Call 972.817.7450
Closed
  • Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
  • Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Imaging Center - Greenville

Baylor Scott & White Imaging Center - Greenville

4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 200, Greenville, TX, 75402

868.2 mi Directions
Call 972.520.9600
Closed
  • Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Outpatient Rehabilitation - Greenville

Baylor Scott & White Outpatient Rehabilitation - Greenville

4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 120, Greenville, TX, 75402

868.2 mi Directions
Call 972.520.9660
Closed
  • Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Primary Care Associates Pediatrics - Greenville

Baylor Scott & White Primary Care Associates Pediatrics - Greenville

4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 110, Greenville, TX, 75402

868.2 mi Directions
Call 469.800.3600
Closed
  • Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiology Consultants of Texas - Greenville

Baylor Scott & White Cardiology Consultants of Texas - Greenville

4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402

868.2 mi Directions
Call 469.800.3400
Closed
  • Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Primary Care Associates - Greenville

Baylor Scott & White Primary Care Associates - Greenville

4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 100, Greenville, TX, 75402

868.2 mi Directions
Call 469.800.3500
Closed
  • Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Gastroenterology - Greenville

Baylor Scott & White Gastroenterology - Greenville

4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402

868.2 mi Directions
Call 469.800.2950
Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas - Greenville

Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas - Greenville

4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402

868.2 mi Directions
Call 469.800.7200
Baylor Scott & White Endoscopy Center - Sherman

Baylor Scott & White Endoscopy Center - Sherman

1615 US-75 Ste B, Sherman, TX, 75090

868.3 mi Directions
Call 903.437.6260
Sherman Endoscopy Center

Sherman Endoscopy Center

1615 N Hwy 75 , Sherman, TX, 75090

868.3 mi Directions
Call 903.437.6260
Baylor Scott & White Women's Care & Continence Center - Sherman

Baylor Scott & White Women's Care & Continence Center - Sherman

260 E Evergreen St , Sherman, TX, 75090

868.5 mi Directions
Call 469.800.4460
Closed
  • Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Sherman Sycamore (Satellite)

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Sherman Sycamore (Satellite)

203 E Sycamore St , Sherman, TX, 75090

868.5 mi Directions
Call 469.326.2636
Texas Vascular Associates - Sherman

Texas Vascular Associates - Sherman

230 E Sycamore St Ste 105, Sherman, TX, 75090

868.5 mi Directions
Call 972.665.9100
Baylor Scott & White Arrhythmia Management - Sherman

Baylor Scott & White Arrhythmia Management - Sherman

230 E Sycamore St Ste 205, Sherman, TX, 75090

868.5 mi Directions
Call 469.800.4540
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Group - Sherman

Baylor Scott & White The Heart Group - Sherman

230 E Sycamore St Ste 205, Sherman, TX, 75090

868.5 mi Directions
Call 469.800.6100
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care – Sherman Highland (Satellite)

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care – Sherman Highland (Satellite)

300 N Highland Ave , Sherman, TX, 75092

869.6 mi Directions
Call 469.326.2636
Baylor Scott & White Digestive Diseases Group - Sherman

Baylor Scott & White Digestive Diseases Group - Sherman

204 Medical Dr Ste 240, Sherman, TX, 75092

870.3 mi Directions
Call 469.800.4500
Baylor Scott & White Primary Care - Van Alstyne

Baylor Scott & White Primary Care - Van Alstyne

250 N Collin McKinney Pkwy , Van Alstyne, TX, 75495

876.5 mi Directions
Call 903.482.9153
Closed
  • Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Anna

Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Anna

601 S. Ferguson Pkwy Ste 100, Anna, TX, 75409

878.3 mi Directions
Call 945.777.3308
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Royse City

Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Royse City

594 W Interstate 30 , Royse City, TX, 75189

878.6 mi Directions
Call 972.635.2401
Closed
  • Monday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Thursday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Friday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Anna

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Anna

450 N Standridge Blvd , Anna, TX, 75409

878.9 mi Directions
Call 469.326.2636
Baylor Scott & White Digestive Diseases Group - Anna

Baylor Scott & White Digestive Diseases Group - Anna

450 N Standridge Blvd Ste 104, Anna, TX, 75409

878.9 mi Directions
Call 469.800.4500
Baylor Scott & White Texas Cardiac Associates - Royse City

Baylor Scott & White Texas Cardiac Associates - Royse City

6257 FM 2642 Blvd Ste 100, Royse City, TX, 75189

880.2 mi Directions
Call 469.800.2700
Baylor Scott & White Primary Care Associates - Royse City

Baylor Scott & White Primary Care Associates - Royse City

6257 FM 2642 Blvd Ste 100, Royse City, TX, 75189

880.2 mi Directions
Call 469.800.3670
Closed
  • Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Surgical Institute - Royse City

Baylor Scott & White Surgical Institute - Royse City

6257 FM 2642 Blvd Ste 100, Royse City, TX, 75189

880.3 mi Directions
Call 469.800.7560
Closed
  • Monday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - McKinney Red Bud

Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - McKinney Red Bud

1705 W University Dr Ste 119, McKinney, TX, 75069

886.6 mi Directions
Call 972.569.8860
Baylor Scott & White Institute For Rehabilitation - McKinney Lake Forest

Baylor Scott & White Institute For Rehabilitation - McKinney Lake Forest

1705 W University Dr Ste 119, McKinney, TX, 75069

886.6 mi Directions
Call 972.569.8860
Baylor Scott & White Institute For Rehabilitation - McKinney University

Baylor Scott & White Institute For Rehabilitation - McKinney University

1705 W University Dr Ste 119, McKinney, TX, 75069

886.6 mi Directions
Call 972.569.8860