Obesity and Deep Vein Thrombosis

Another increased health risk for the obese has been more fully defined – deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, especially in those under 40. Formation of a blood clot in a deep leg vein is usually easily recognized – there’s pain (worse on standing or walking), redness, warmth, and swelling. If a piece of the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, that’s a pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism is the third most common acute cardiovascular disease after heart attack and stroke, but it’s not always diagnosed promptly; the symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain which may be worse on deep breathing; and coughing up phlegm, possibly flecked with blood.

Deep vein thrombosis is usually seen in people over 40, especially if there are risk factors such as relative immobility (a long flight or hospitalization), pregnancy, contraceptive use, or cancer. In the under 40s, however, obesity carries a five-fold increased risk of deep vein thrombosis. The greatest risk was in women under 40, where the likelihood was increased 6.1 times. Perhaps the greatest use of this information will be made by doctors, who will b e alerted to t he possibility of the diagnosis in obese patients.