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TUESDAY, March 6 (HealthDay News) -- Vice President Dick Cheney's diagnosis of a blood clot in his leg has focused needed attention on this common and potentially life-threatening problem, heart experts say.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is caused by the appearance of a clot in a larger vein, typically in the leg. The clot can break off and travel through the bloodstream before lodging in the lungs, brain, heart, or other organ, causing severe damage or death.
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DVT is typically referred to as "economy class syndrome" because it can strike people who travel long distances on a plane. But it also poses risks to anyone who has endured prolonged sitting or bed rest. Other risk factors include heart disease; recent surgery or trauma (especially hip, knee or gynecological surgery); fractures; childbirth within the last six months; and use of medications such as estrogen and birth control pills, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
"DVT ranges from a minimal inconvenience to something that is potentially life-threatening," said Dr. Stephen Siegel, a cardiologist at New York University Medical Center and a clinical assistant professor at NYU School of Medicine.
A typical symptom of DVT is a continuous pain in the calf, Siegel said. "It is frequently associated with some redness or point tenderness, a streak over the vein can sometimes be seen, and sometimes the leg becomes swollen," he said.
In severe cases, a patient can have difficulty breathing, chest pain or cough up blood, Siegel added.
Cheney's condition, which was made public Tuesday, may have been brought on by his 25,000-mile trip to Asia last week, despite the comfort of Air Force Two.
In addition, he has had a long history of heart ailments. He had four heart attacks before he assumed office in 2001. He has an implanted defibrillator to regulate his heartbeat if necessary. And, in 2005, he underwent six hours of surgery on both legs to repair a kind of aneurysm, a ballooning weak spot in an artery that can burst if left untreated.
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