Drummers or any person that sits for extended periods of time are at risk of developing blood clots in the legs or a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
A DVT usually develops in a deep vein in the leg but it can occur in other parts of the body, such as the arm after an injury.
Blood clot development is a normal process that protects the body against losing blood. However, when the blood clots inside a blood vessel as with a DVT, dangerous complications can develop.
A DVT can be caused by a damaged vein or if the flow of blood within the vein slows down or stops. Age over 40 years, a past history of DVT, a family history of DVT, immobility, obesity, recent lower extremity surgery or injury, pregnancy, recently giving birth, cancer, hormone replacement therapy, treatment for cardiovascular problems and those taking contraceptives are at greater risk of developing a DVT.
There is evidence that travel requiring long airplane flights or bus trips (lasting four hours or more) may also increase the risk of developing DVT because of prolonged immobility.
Diagnostic tests such as a Doppler ultrasound scan can evaluate blockages of blood flow in blood vessels. A venogram is another more invasive method to show the flow of blood in the veins after a dye is injected into the veins and then evaluated with X-ray.
In the majority of DVT cases, the clots are small and are not symptomatic. Our body is able to gradually break down the clot without causing long-term effects.
When larger clots develop, partial or total blockage of the blood flow in the vein occurs causing symptoms such as swelling of the calf and pain in the calf with standing or walking.
Although these symptoms are not always signs of a DVT, you should seek medical attention if they last for more than 24 hours.
The potential complications from a DVT can be life threatening such as pulmonary embolism (PE). PE occurs when a piece of a blood clot breaks off and travels in the bloodstream and becomes lodged in the lungs blocking it’s blood flow. This can develop hours or even days after the formation of a clot in the calf veins. A pulmonary embolism may cause chest pain and shortness of breath. Immediate emergency medical treatment must be obtained since a pulmonary embolism can be fatal in severe cases.
Treatment of DVT is aimed at preventing the clot becoming larger, blood clots from breaking loose and travelling to the lungs and preventing the formation of new clots.
Anticoagulant medicines are the most common treatment for DVT. Anticoagulants can stop new blood clots from forming and old ones growing in size. They are not able to dissolve existing clots. The body can do this itself over time.
You should not perform any activities that could increase your risk of injury when taking anticoagulants. Anticoagulants interfere with blood clotting and may cause bleeding after even a small injury.
Compression stockings are also sometimes recommended to relieve swelling. These may need to be worn for extended periods of time.
Any measures you can take to reduce the risk of DVT including keeping mobile by exercising your legs regularly is extremely important especially if you feel you are at high risk of developing a DVT.
If you develop swelling or pain in your leg, and later develop breathing problems, you should seek medical advice urgently.