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Thrombosis (Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT) is one of the largest causes of death here in the UK, yet many of us have little or no understanding of what causes it, how to recognise the symptoms or how to prevent it.With an estimated 1 in 1,000 people developing a DVT each year in the UK, read on to learn more about this very common, yet potentially life threatening condition. What is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)? A deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot (or thrombus) that occurs in the veins, most commonly in the legs but can appear in other areas of the body including the arms. There are two types of veins in our bodies: deep and superficial. Deep veins in the legs are the larger ones that go through the muscles of the calf and thighs. Not to be confused with varicose veins, these deep veins lie further down, too deep for us to see from the surface of the skin. When blood flow through the deep vein is partially or completely blocked, often due to immobility, a blood clot (or thrombus) can form, reduce or even stop the blood flow and begin to cause potential problems. What causes deep vein thrombosis (DVT)? Sometimes a blood clot can appear for no apparent reason, but in most cases the thrombus will develop due to one or more of the following reasons: Injury that requires the patient to remain immobile for some time. A leg fracture, for example, where the leg is in a cast can be a cause of DVT due to the inability to move the limb and encourage healthy blood flow through the veins. Surgery. Unfortunately, the risks of developing a DVT are higher in people undergoing surgery with a general anaesthetic because of the temporary paralysis it causes and the subsequent immobility during recovery. Long journeys (plane/coach/car) can create a slight increase in risk, again due to the long periods of time spent in one position with no movement to allow for healthy blood flow through the veins. Pregnancy - around 1 in 1000 pregnant mothers will develop a DVT during or within 6 months of pregnancy. Obesity. If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is above 30 you are at a much higher risk of developing DVT. Other causes can include heart disease, cancer, HRT or combined contraceptive pill, being over the age of 60 and low levels of hydration. What are the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)? Since most DVTs occur in the lower leg the most common symptoms include: Pain or tenderness or swelling around the calf A discolouration of the calf area A ‘hot’ area around the calf. The blood that usually flows through the deep vein is diverted to the outer veins, closer to the skin, and causes a temperature rise. Unfortunately, nearly half of DVT episodes have minimal or no symptoms at all. These “silent” symptoms are particularly concerning and give heed to the importance of the use of daily prevention techniques. How do I prevent deep being thrombosis (DVT)? While DVT can be treated, by far the best “treatment” for DVT is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Keep active Maintain a healthy weight Give up smoking and other factors that increase risk of heart disease and cancers. Wear travel compression socks if you’re travelling or need to sit in one position for a prolonged period of time. Compression Stockings (anti-embolism stockings) Most people who develop a DVT will be advised to wear compression stockings to reduce the risk of developing another DVT and the risk of developing post-thrombotic syndrome. You will be advised by your medical professional on how and when to wear them but on average they should be worn each day, for at least two years after developing a DVT. Compression stockings work by applying pressure from outside the veins. This helps squeeze the blood in the veins back up the legs. This then makes the pressure inside the veins less. In turn this prevents leakage of blood into the surrounding tissues. If you are concerned or are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above please seek urgent medical help. Need more help with buying the right compression socks or stockings? We're always here to help so get in touch today. For all your Medical and Homecare supplies give us a call at Mediworld. We have over 40 years experience in medical, surgical, mobility and home health supplies and we're always on hand to chat if you need support or advice. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and don't forget to read our other great health blogs!

More than one in four adults have hypertension here in the UK. Many millions of us are, unknowingly, living with high blood pressure and leaving ourselves vulnerable to the serious and sometimes fatal health conditions that can lead to. Every day in the UK around 350 people have a stroke or heart attack that could have been prevented. So, is it beneficial to regularly monitor our own blood pressure at home? The answer is a definitive yes. Why test at home? Home blood pressure monitoring is an effective and inexpensive way to keep blood pressure under control and the evidence behind it continues to get stronger. You can test yourself very easily and cheaply using a simple home blood pressure monitor.  Home Monitoring allows you to take control of your health in your own time. It gives you a practical way to monitor your blood pressure health without the stress of visiting your GP or pharmacist, and it really can save your life. Staying healthy Around a third of people in the UK have high blood pressure, but most don’t know it. It doesn’t have any symptoms so, the only way to find out is to have a blood pressure check. High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes and other illnesses. Once you begin to regularly monitor your blood pressure with your own blood pressure monitor you can start to form an understanding of the patterns your body is following and, more importantly, stop your blood pressure from going too high and protect yourself from these diseases. How to Monitor your own Blood Pressure Place the arm cuff just above your elbow, ideally 2cm above your elbow to detect the artery in your arm just under your skin. Sit down with your legs uncrossed. Keep calm and still while you take your reading. Try not to talk, eat, drink or laugh while using your monitor. Take 2, or even 3, readings about one to two minutes apart. With 3 readings you can work out the average. If one reading is significantly higher or lower than the others you should ignore it. Keep a record of your readings. Write down your measurements exactly as they appear on the screen of your blood pressure monitor How often should you monitor your own blood pressure? It’s best to consult your GP or practice nurse before monitoring your blood pressure at home. They will be able to advise you on when and how often to take a measurement and how to recognise when your blood numbers are too high or too low. When you first start using a home monitor, measure your blood pressure in the morning and evening, every day for a week. At the end of the week you will have a useful picture of what your blood pressure is normally like. Once you have a record of your blood pressure over a week, you can take readings less often – once every one to two weeks perhaps. Your doctor or nurse can talk to you about this, there’s no need to measure it too often. If your blood pressure has been stable for a long time, you might only need to measure it once every four to six months. Your doctor or nurse will be able to advise you and will probably suggest that if you change your medication you should increase your blood pressure monitoring for a while too. More resources The charity Blood Pressure UK* is a fantastic resource for information on monitoring your blood pressure and how to keep those numbers at a healthy level. . * Info, stats and resources for this blog credit to Blood Pressure UK.  Need more help to find the right blood pressure monitor for your needs? We're always here to help so get in touch today. For all your Medical and Homecare supplies give us a call at Mediworld. We have over 40 years experience in medical, surgical, mobility and home health supplies and we're always on hand to chat if you need support or advice. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and don't forget to read our other great health blogs!

Around 1 in 1000 people in the UK will develop Thrombosis (Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT) every year. It can be painful but it can also, unfortunately, be fatal. So, what are the signs of DVT and how can you avoid becoming at risk of developing a serious, life-threatening thrombosis? What is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)? DVT is a blood clot (or thrombus) that occurs in the veins, most commonly in the legs or the arms. When blood flow through the deep vein is partially or completely blocked, often due to immobility, a blood clot (or thrombus) can form, reduce or even stop the blood flow and begin to cause potential problems. How to recognise a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) Since most DVTs occur in the lower leg the most common symptoms to look out for are: Pain or tenderness or swelling around the calf A discolouration of the calf area A ‘hot’ area around the calf. The blood that usually flows through the deep vein is diverted to the outer veins, closer to the skin, and causes a temperature rise. How do I prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT)? Eliminate the risk of developing a DVT by: Keeping active - Being sedentary for long periods of time is a risk factor for DVT, so increase your cardiovascular exercise by walking, jogging, cycling or swimming. If you sit for long periods of time at work, for example, try to get up every 15-20 minutes for a short walk around the office or if that’s not possible wiggle your toes and move your feet and legs around under the desk as often as you can Maintaining a healthy weight - if you’e obese, lose weight. The risk of DVT is much greater if you are overweight or obese.Any excess weight makes it more difficult to circulate blood around the body, particularly back to the heart from the feet and legs, thus making clotting more likely. Quiting Smoking - The risk of DVT is also greater if you are a chronic cigarette smoker. Smoking thickens the blood and makes it easier for clots to get stuck and cause serious problems. Smoking is a significant factor in the majority of DVT sufferers across the world. Wearing compression socks - if you’re travelling or need to sit in one position for a prolonged period of time. Compression stockings work by applying pressure from outside the veins. This helps squeeze the blood in the veins back up the legs. This then makes the pressure inside the veins less. In turn this prevents leakage of blood into the surrounding tissues. If you are concerned or are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above please seek urgent medical help. Need more help with buying the right compression socks or stockings? We're always here to help so get in touch today. For all your Medical and Homecare supplies give us a call at Mediworld. We have over 40 years experience in medical, surgical, mobility and home health supplies and we're always on hand to chat if you need support or advice. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and don't forget to read our other great health blogs! September 2022