Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) occurs in the veins that run further away from the skin’s surface. These veins predominantly transport the blood in the body instead of other superficial veins. Usually, DVT occurs in the legs. However, it might appear anywhere within the deep vein system. The giveaway signs of DVT include warmness, swelling, or redness of the affected area’s skin. Read on to know about the types of DVT.

The two main types of deep vein thrombosis.

Acute DVT
Acute DVT is a highly common health condition, which occurs predominantly in the legs of men and women across all age groups. If the number of blood clots is more, then more veins are blocked in the body, resulting in severe symptoms.

• Symptoms

Common symptoms of acute DVT include swelling or pain in the legs, which affects or limits movement.

• Treatment

In this type of DVT, the doctor’s objective is to help restore the flow of blood in the body. So, they try to remove or dissolve the clot. When the clot dissolves, the pain and swelling resolve automatically. Several devices, drugs, or treatments may be used for acute DVT treatment to get rid of blood clots. It is mostly treated with the use of anticoagulants or blood thinners. These are injected into the body and can also be consumed as pills. They lower the blood’s clotting ability. Though they do not break down the existing clots, they reduce the risk of clots getting bigger. Blood thinners also decrease the risk of the formation of more clots.

Chronic DVT
If the clot underneath the skin is about one or two months old, it is known as chronic DVT. Over time, the clot gets more problematic and scars the vein. Because of chronic DVT, the vein gets smaller and cannot carry the blood in the body effectively.

• Symptoms

Those who have chronic DVT showcase symptoms such as pain or swelling in the leg and change in the color of the leg below the knee. For these cases, the doctor will recommend compression stockings.

• Treatment

In this case, the doctor will use different techniques to open the veins. At times, they insert metal stents to open blocked veins. In people with severe DVT, the doctors might also prescribe drugs known as clot busters, which can break down the clots. Such drugs are either administered via a catheter or injected through IV. As these can cause massive bleeding, they are used only in severe cases where no other method brings improvement.