May 25, 2011
Deep Vein Thrombosis, known as DVT, affects nearly a million Americans a year.
If you spot the signs treatment can help control the condition.
For example, after a long flight home from Europe in 2009, 28-year-old Kelly Hogan looked like the picture of health but she felt pain in her calf that she ignored for weeks.
She went to the doctor and was diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis.
The condition occurs when a blood clot forms in a large vein and blocks circulation.
Experts estimate that DVT affects about 1 million Americans each year.
But certain factors can increase your risk like:
--sitting for long periods of time
--injury or surgery
--clotting disorders
--pregnancy
--and certain medications
Kelly was admitted to the hospital and given blood thinners through an I-V to break up the clot.
She then took an oral blood thinner for about a year and made a full recovery.
She even ran the New York City Marathon in 2010.