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Print ArticleDeep Vein Thrombosis Health Center
DVT
Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is caused by a blood clot in a muscle and can be life-threatening. Symptoms include swelling, pain, and tenderness in the legs. Risk factors include immobility, hormone therapy, and pregnancy.
Daily therapy with the statin drug Crestor cuts the risk of blood clots in the veins by more than 40%, a study shows.
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Deep Vein Thrombosis Causes and Risks
The main cause of deep vein thrombosis -- also called DVT -- is poor blood flow. When circulation slows, blood can pool and more easily form clots -- raising your DVT risk.
Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein deep inside a muscle in your body. It usually happens in legs, but can also develop in your arms, chest, or other areas of your body. And though DVT is common, it can be dangerous. The blood clot can block your circulation or lodge in a blood vessel in your lungs, brain, heart, or other area. The clot can cause severe organ damage and even death -- within hours.
