What to Watch For That Could Save Lives
Health care is at its prime in today’s society, but even with amazing advances in technology and medicine, a good number of the population is walking around leading everyday lives with underlying conditions. Take, for instance, the pregnant woman who delivers a full-term baby that weighs less than five pounds. After lab tests, doctors discover she has a genetic blood clotting disorder referred to as Factor V Leiden, which, most likely restricted blood flow to the baby – a condition the new mom never knew she had before pregnancy and may have never known if not for deciding to have a child.
This concept also rings true for athletes as well. When you are young, eating a healthy diet, and are in excellent physical condition, no one thinks they are at risk for life-threatening problems and certainly not for blood clots. After all, none of the common risk factors, including obesity, heart disease, and a sedentary lifestyle, are in the picture, so why worry? Unfortunately, however, even the fittest athletes are at risk, according to researchers who now realize that those in supreme shape are more likely to develop potentially serious complications from blood clots.
Dr. Charles Dietzek: Board-Certified Vascular Surgeon
That’s where Dr. Charles Dietzek comes in. A board-certified vascular surgeon, Dietzek founded the Vein & Vascular Institute in 2005, with offices in Voorhees, Sewell, and Vineland, where he and his staff practice a full spectrum of comprehensive venous and cosmetic procedures. He has also taught more than one thousand physicians in Total Vein Care, a national physician-training course in the art of vein treatment.
Although Dr. Dietzek now does most of his work related to varicose veins, he continues to treat his fair share of patients with blood clots, some of whom are athletes who suffer from athletic-related venous situations. According to Dr. Dietzek, anytime someone gets traumatized, they are set up for a clot, especially if they are injured and immobile for an extended period of time. Even for athletes in their prime, a leg cast could cause a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or blood clot in a deep vein of the leg.
What is Deep Vein Thrombosis
DVT is a serious condition because blood clots in the deep vein scan break loose and travel through the bloodstream into the lungs. The blood clot can then occlude blood vessels, blocking blood flow. This is called a pulmonary embolism; in some cases, where the clot is large, it can result in sudden death. According to Dr. Dietzek, there is not too much that can be done to prevent a sports-related injury other than taking typical precautions such as wearing protective gear; however, there are signs and symptoms to look for that require medical attention. These are swelling, pain, redness, and firmness in an injured extremity.
The scary part, according to Dietzek, is that you don’t have to be disabled or unhealthy to suffer from a blood clot. “You can be perfectly healthy and young and get side-lined. Everyone is at risk, especially when trauma is sustained.” So what is the silver lining? Fortunately, clots can be investigated with a simple, painless ultrasound and typically respond well to treatment with blood thinners called anticoagulants. Dr. Dietzek recalls the story of a female athlete who was cast after suffering from a broken leg. When the cast was removed, her leg was swollen and painful, and there was indeed a clot. Since it was discovered, investigated, and treated promptly, the result was very successful and positive.
Another, more famous example is that of tennis great Serena Williams, who is 2011 was gravely ill from a DVT. After experiencing difficulty breathing and heading to the hospital, it was discovered that she had several blood clots in both lungs. After several months off from the court, she regained strength and returned to the game. In an interesting twist, not all blood clots that break off cause significant symptoms. If you have shortness of breath at rest or chest pain occurs, these are alerting factors that a clot may have traveled to the chest blood vessels requiring urgent care.
Not All Clots are DVT
On another note, not all clots are DVTs, according to Dr. Dietzek, who confirmed that superficial clots exist in superficial veins, which are typically palpable at the skin surface. “There is a big difference in treatment between a superficial clot and a DVT. They should still be evaluated to determine that the superficial clot doesn’t extend into the deep vein system, thereby confirming it is not the sign of a bigger problem.”
In fact, another surprising tidbit that most people are unaware of is that some varicose veins can be dangerous if left untreated. They can result in blood clots called superficial vein thrombosis (SVT). Varicose veins can also cause skin discoloration and damage and, in severe cases, skin ulcers. If varicose veins become hard, look infected, or inflamed, they should be evaluated by a vein specialist. Surprisingly, according to Dr. Dietzek, no one is exempt from varicose veins. “I have seen varicose veins in teenagers, which most people don’t expect,” he said. “Everyone needs to be careful when playing sports if they receive an injury on a varicose vein because it could start a cascade that could lead to an SVT and possibly extend to become a DVT.”
As much as clots can occur in the lower extremities (particularly the legs), they can also happen in the upper extremities. Athletes, in particular, can develop Effort Subclavian Vein Thrombosis or clots in the vessels underneath the collar bone when the muscles in the upper arms and chest are exerted, which squeeze the veins. “If a person is doing a lot of upper body exercise with weights such as a bodybuilder or athlete who lifts often, and they develop arm swelling or pain, they should be evaluated for a clot.” Pitchers are also prone to develop this due to the repetitive arm motion causing injury to the blood vessels around the shoulder. The take-home message is that no one is exempt,” says Dietzek. “I have even had a thirteen-year-old wrestler with this problem. ”
Case Study: Body Builders
One classic case of Effort Subclavian Vein Thrombosis is a bodybuilder who suddenly develops shoulder swelling with bulging veins on one side of the shoulder and chest. This should be an alert that a clot may exist and needs treatment. “Typically, the clot is dissolved with special clot-dissolving intravenous medicines. There are times when surgery was indeed a clot. Since it was discovered, investigated, and treated promptly, the result was very successful and positive. Another, more famous example is that of tennis great Serena Williams, who in 2011 was gravely ill from a DVT. After experiencing difficulty breathing and heading to the hospital, it was discovered that she had several blood clots in both lungs. After several months off from the court, she regained strength and returned to the game. In an interesting twist, not all blood clots that break off cause significant symptoms. If you have shortness of breath at rest or chest pain occurs, these are alerting factors that a clot may have traveled to the chest blood vessels requiring urgent care.
On another note, not all clots are DVTs, according to Dr. Dietzek, who confirmed that superficial clots exist in superficial veins, which are typically palpable at the skin surface. “There is a big difference in treatment between a superficial clot and a DVT. They should still be evaluated to determine that the superficial clot doesn’t extend into the deep vein system, thereby confirming it is not the sign of a bigger problem.” In fact, another surprising tidbit that most people are unaware of is that some varicose veins can be dangerous if left untreated. They can result in blood clots called superficial vein thrombosis (SVT). Varicose veins can also cause skin discoloration and damage and, in severe cases, skin ulcers. If varicose veins become hard, look infected, or inflamed, they should be evaluated by a vein specialist. Surprisingly, according to Dr. Dietzek, no one is exempt from varicose veins. “I have seen varicose veins in teenagers, which most people don’t expect,” he said. “Everyone needs to be careful when playing sports if they receive an injury on a varicose vein because it could start a cascade that could lead to an SVT and possibly extend to become a DVT.”
For as much as clots can occur in the lower extremities (particularly the legs), they can also happen in the upper extremities. Athletes, in particular, can develop Effort Subclavian Vein Thrombosis or clots in the vessels underneath the collar bone when the muscles in the upper arms and chest are exerted, which squeeze the veins. “If a person is doing a lot of upper body exercise with weights such as a bodybuilder or athlete who lifts often, and they develop arm swelling or pain, they should be evaluated for a clot.” Pitchers are also prone to develop this due to the repetitive arm motion causing injury to the blood vessels around the shoulder. The take-home message is that no one is exempt,” says Dietzek. “I have even had a thirteen-year-old wrestler with this problem.” One classic case of Effort Subclavian Vein Thrombosis is a bodybuilder who suddenly develops shoulder swelling with bulging veins on one side of the shoulder and chest. This should be an alert that a clot may exist and needs treatment. “Typically, the clot is dissolved with special clot-dissolving intravenous medicines. There are times when surgery