Posts Tagged ‘Women’

Deep Vein Thrombosis during Pregnancy – Causes and Treatment

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein of the leg, calf or pelvis. During pregnancy, swelling and discomfort in both legs is common and does not always mean there is a problem. The blood in the veins is in constant formation of tiny clots that usually breaks down in the body. If the balance of clot formation and resolution changes, significant clotting can occur. A thrombus may form if one or a combination of the following situations exists.

Causes of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Immobility
- Prolonged sitting and travel such as long airplane flights, car or train.
- Hospitalization.
- Surgery.
- Trauma in the leg with or without surgery or casting.
- Pregnancy, including 6-8 weeks after birth.
- Obesity.

Hypercoagulability
- Smoking
- Genetic predisposition
- Polycythemia (increased number of red blood cells)
- Cancer

Trauma to the vein
- Fracture of the leg
- Leg contusion
- Complication of an invasive procedure, the vein

Other causes include:
- The damage occurs to the inner lining of a vein. This damage can result from injuries caused by physical, chemical or biological factors. Such factors include surgery, serious injury, inflammation and immune response.
- Blood flow is sluggish or slow. Lack of movement can cause slow or sluggish blood flow. This can occur after surgery, if you are sick and in bed for a long time, or if you are travelling for a long time.
- Your blood is thicker or more likely to clot than normal. Certain hereditary conditions (such as factor V Leiden) increase the tendency for blood to clot. This is also true for treatment with hormone therapy or birth control pills.

Treatment for Deep Vein Thrombosis

As soon as the doctor suspects a venous thrombosis, you are advised to start treatment with an injection of heparin (an anticoagulant) to “thin the blood.” There are different types of heparin. The most commonly used in pregnancy is “low molecular weight heparin (LMWH).

Superficial Thrombophlebitis:
The treatment of superficial blood clot is symptomatic:
- Hot towels
- Leg compression and
- An anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen.

Deep venous Thromboses
Treatment of DVT above the knee is anticoagulation, unless there is a contraindication.Contraindications include recent major surgery (from anticoagulation would be thin all the blood in the body, not just in the leg, leading to serious bleeding problems), or abnormal reactions when previously exposed to anticoagulant medications.

Anticoagulation prevents further growth of blood clotting and prevents the formation of a clot that can travel to the lungs. Anticoagulation is a two-step process. Warfarin is the drug of choice for anticoagulation. It should be started immediately, but unfortunately it may take a week or more for blood to get properly diluted. Therefore, the molecular weight heparin is administered at the same time. It thins the blood through a different mechanism and is used as bridge therapy until the warfarin has reached the therapeutic level. Enoxaparin injections can be given on an outpatient basis.

Surgery
Surgery is a rare option in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis large leg in patients who can not take blood thinners or who have recurrent clots while on anticoagulant medications. Surgery is often accompanied by placement of a vena cava (IVC) filter to prevent future clots embolization to the lung.

Cerulea dolens Phlegmasia describes a situation in which a blood clot in the iliac vein of the pelvis and the femoral vein in the leg, blocking almost all of the blood return and jeopardizing the blood supply to the leg. In this case surgery may be considered to remove the clot, but the patient also required anticoagulant medications.

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Feeling faint or dizziness during Pregnancy – causes and treatment

Dizziness or feeling faint is a normal symptom during pregnancy. It is more common in the first quarter, but may also be common during the whole pregnancy. During this time, the cardiovascular system will undergo some dramatic changes:
- The heart rate increases.
- The heart pumps more blood per minute and the amount of blood in the body expands by an average of 40-45%.
- The capacity of the circulatory system also increases as blood flows to the enlarged uterus and placenta.
Pregnancy is a time of change and body changes make you more apt to feel dizzy or light headed.

Causes:
The main reason of dizziness during pregnancy due to increased hormones that cause blood vessels to relax and widen. This helps to increase the blood flow to the baby, but delays the return of blood in the veins. This makes the blood pressure to be lower than usual, which can reduce blood flow to the brain, temporarily causing dizziness.
Early in pregnancy, dizziness is probably due to the fact that the body still is not producing enough blood to fill the rapidly expanding circulatory system.

Dizziness is also caused by low blood sugar that may occur when the body adapts to changes in their metabolism. Women who are anemic or who have varicose veins may be more susceptible to motion sickness than others.

During the second trimester, dizziness may be caused by the growing uterus puts pressure on blood vessels. Reduced blood flow to the brain, sometimes turn the head. You may feel dizzy if the blood sugar decreases or becomes dehydrated.

Dizziness can also occur later in pregnancy if you lie on the back so that the baby’s weight to press into the vena cava. Another possible reason you feel dizzy during pregnancy is that you are spending too much time in a warm room or stuffy nose, especially if you are wearing clothes too tight or hot. Remember, the body is a furnace to make babies, which generates a lot of their own heat right now.

Treatment:
There are several things can be done to reduce the amount of drowsiness you experience. You can leave a sickness on his way to bed as soon as you start to feel lightheaded. Elevate the feet to increase blood flow to the brain. Second best: Sit and bend forward as you can, put the head between the knees, if possible. If there is no place to lie down or sit, kneel on one knee and leaning forward as if tied to his shoe until the spell passes.

Here are some helpful suggestions to reduce dizziness during pregnancy:

- Avoid standing for long periods. If you are standing, be sure to keep the feet moving to help increase circulation.
- Stand up slowly, either sitting or lying down (This is very important when you are out of the bathtub).
- Eat regularly. Avoid long periods between meals, it is best to eat during the day.
- Avoid hot baths or showers.
- Avoid lying on the back once you get to half of its second quarter.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing to avoid restricting circulation.

Sometimes the dizziness can be a symptom of shock after severe blood loss. If you feel faint, dizzy or faint, have any vaginal bleeding, and/or abdominal pain; contact the midwife, doctor or maternity unit – which is faster – immediately.
Health care provider must be immediately consulted if dizziness is accompanied by vaginal bleeding and/or pain in abdomen. This could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy, a low-lying placenta, or placental abruption.

Bleeding Gums during Pregnancy or Pregnancy Gingivitis – Causes, Prevention and Treatment

Now that you’re pregnant, you may have noticed that the gums are bothering more than usual. If the gums are sore or tender, or gums are bleeding when brushing or flossing, you may have a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. Pregnancy gingivitis is a common occurrence during pregnancy, however, if left untreated can lead to complications. If you notice any symptoms of pregnancy gingivitis, it is important to visit the dentist for proper treatment.

Swollen, red gums, painful bleeding when brushing or flossing are a sign of pregnancy gingivitis. The inflammation is caused by higher progesterone levels that make the gums more susceptible to plaque bacteria and the increased blood supply in the mouth.

You can also develop a benign nodule in the gums that bleed when you brush the teeth. This type of nodule is called pregnancy tumour or pyogenic granuloma. Tumours of pregnancy can actually appear anywhere in the body during pregnancy, but most often they appear in the mouth.

A pregnancy tumour can grow up to three quarters of an inch in size and is more likely to occur in an area where you have gingivitis. It usually disappears after having the baby, but if not, you will need to have it removed. If it causes discomfort, it interferes with chewing or brushing, or begins to bleed excessively; you can have it removed during pregnancy.

Causes:
There are several causes of gum disease during pregnancy. One is the increase in blood flow. During pregnancy, blood flow actually increases between 30% and 50%. This is to ensure that the baby is always getting the right nutrients to grow and develop. Unfortunately, this increased blood flow can cause the gums to swell and become very sensitive. It can even cause the gums to bleed, leaving them at greater risk for gingivitis.

The increase in hormones may also play a role in the development of pregnancy gingivitis. These high levels of the hormones leave the gums and teeth more sensitive to the bacteria that hide in the plate. This is one reason why gingivitis is so common in pregnancy.

Morning sickness can also play a small role in contributing to pregnancy gingivitis. Many women find they can no longer stand the smell or taste of the toothpaste, making it difficult to maintain good oral hygiene. Increased vomiting during pregnancy can also take its toll on the gums. Vomit contains stomach acid that can eat away the gums and teeth, making the mouth are very sensitive.

Treatment:
There is no cure for gum disease, although the damage can sometimes be reversed or stopped. All pregnant women should receive at least two thorough cleanings during pregnancy. This should help reduce your chances of developing periodontal disease or gingivitis of pregnancy.

If you already have gingivitis, treating gum disease is better to have a thorough cleaning at your dentist’s office. Your dentist will scale your teeth using a variety of instruments. This will remove excess plaque from teeth and around the gum line. Severe gingivitis may also require root planning, a process during which the roots of the teeth are cleaned the plate completely.

Prevention:
As always, the best treatment for gingivitis is prevention. Maintaining good oral hygiene routine will ensure that your gums and teeth healthy for a long time to come. Try following these tips:
- Brush twice a day for at least five minutes.
- Use a soft bristle brush – this will prevent irritating your gums.
- Flossing once a day or use an antibacterial mouthwash to get rid of plaque between teeth.
- Avoid eating large amounts of refined sugar – this will reduce the plaque and tartar .
- Visit your dentist regularly.