DVT are you the 1 in 1000?

Each year, DVT affects around 1 person in every 1,000 in the UK. Anyone can develop DVT and the chances of getting it increase after the age of 40. A DVT most commonly occurs in the deep veins of your lower leg (calf), or your arms.

Questions to ask yourself if you are worried about DVT

Are your legs warm or even HOT to the touch?
Are your legs tender or feel more painful than usual?
Swelling, usually in one leg
Is your skin Red?
Is your skin Blue?
Does your skin look a different colour to usual?

Contact your doctor immediately if you have any of the above symptoms, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Here at South Yorkshire Mobility we have some simple yet effective tips that could reduce your risks.

Try to stay active, by moving around at least every hour,even if you have restricted mobility,small movements will help.
If you are able take regular short walks.
Do heel toe exercises or circle your feet if you cannot move around.
If you are able, seated march, by lifting your knee up as much as possible in a marching movement, then slowly lower and alternate legs.
Stay hydrated, it is one of the oldest tips for almost every complaint, but its really important to drink a lot of water.
Wear loose fitted clothing so you are not restricting movement.
It is also an old one, yet it is very important to try and loose some weight if you are overweight.
Avoid alcohol.
If you attend hospital on a regular basis, it is worth asking for compression stockings to prevent clots. It's vital that compression stockings are measured and worn correctly. Ill-fitting stockings could further increase the risk of DVT.
If you are already on blood thinners, for example Warfarin, it is important to keep an eye on some vegetables you eat. Green and cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts , cauliflower, broccoli, and even garden cress are rich in vitamin K. This is the vitamin your liver uses to make the proteins that cause blood clots and Warfarin works by interfering with this clotting action.
Raise your leg when resting. This helps to relieve the pressure in the veins of the calf and stops blood and fluid pooling in the calf itself.
When raising your leg, make sure your foot is higher than your hip. This will help the returning blood flow from your calf.
Putting a cushion underneath your leg while you're lying down should help raise your leg above the level of your hip.
You can also slightly raise the end of your bed to ensure that your foot and calf are slightly higher than your hip.
Try some simple leg lifts. Lift your foot off the floor, and straighten your leg as much as you can, while keeping your ankles bent and your toes pointed upward. Relax your leg. Repeat with the other leg. Alternate each leg a few times.
Most importantly make sure your doctor is aware of any worry you have, the smallest concern could be a big thing if left. Please speak to a professional ASAP.