What Doctor Specializes In Blood Clots

Treatment Centers Specializing In Thrombosis And Thrombophilia

Treatment Centers Specializing in Thrombosis and Thrombophilia exist as part of a network of specialized healthcare centers that work to prevent and reduce complications from certain blood disorders. These healthcare centers are funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also known as the CDC, and include hemophilia treatment centers, or HTCs. Some, but not all of these HTCs provide care to patients with blood clotting disorders or thrombosis and thrombophilia.

To help you find a specialized treatment center, click the following link: Treatment Centers Specializing in Thrombosis or Thrombophilia and Hemophilia Treatment Centers

How Are Blood Clots Treated

Treatments are similar for both DVT and PE, Dr. Moll says.

We want to prevent an existing clot from getting larger, he says. Also, we want to keep new clots from forming and, especially, prevent a DVT from breaking off and becoming a PE.

Treatments include blood-thinning medications, or anticoagulants, given either as a tablet taken by mouth or an injection. Many patients do not need to be admitted to the hospital but can be treated as outpatients however, patients with more severe symptoms typically get admitted, Dr. Moll says.

Occasionally, with more severe clots, IV clot buster drugs are used to break up the clot and removal of the clot with a catheter, called a thrombectomy, will be considered.

Blood thinners are very effective in preventing clots from getting bigger or breaking off. Patients on blood thinners will have an outpatient follow-up appointment to make sure the medicine is helping, any bleeding issues are recognized early enough, and the patient is improving appropriately.

A key point to discuss with your provider is how long you need to be on a blood thinner, Dr. Moll says. This depends on what triggered the blood clot and what your risk of another clot would be if you came off blood thinners. Some people are on blood thinners for as little as three months for others, they are needed for years.

What Are Common Blood Tests

Your blood consists of many parts. Healthcare providers may order tests that evaluate your blood as whole or different parts of your blood. Here are some common tests a hematologist may order to diagnose a blood disorder or blood cancer:

• Complete blood count :This basic blood test evaluates your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
• Blood differential test: This test counts the numbers of each type of white blood cell. Providers may do this test when they do a complete blood count.
• Prothrombin time test : This test measures how quickly your blood forms clots.
• Reticulocyte count:This test measures the number of young blood cells in your blood.
• Peripheral blood smear :Providers use this process to examine your red and white blood cells and platelets under a microscope.

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Emergency Medical Services: The First Line Of Care For Pulmonary Embolism

Many people do not have any signs of a pulmonary embolism until it is a life-threatening situation. These patients may collapse or have symptoms that are severe enough to warrant calling 911 for an ambulance. This group will work with an EMS person. This medic will be responsible for life-saving measures and/or stabilization until the patient reaches the hospital. EMS may contribute to diagnosis.

If you have a condition that predisposes you to clotting or if you have a history of clots it is recommended that you wear a medical ID so that EMS will know to take measures to treat clots immediately. This bracelet can also alert EMS as to any anti coagulation therapies and emergency contacts.

National Society Of Genetic Counselors

Genetic counseling services, or genetic counselors, can help families at risk for inherited conditions investigate the problem present in the family, interpret information about the disorder, analyze inheritance patterns, interpret risks to family members, and review available management options. Genetic counseling may be valuable for those who have questions about hereditary thrombophilia in their family. Specifically, genetic counseling may be helpful in answering questions about inheritance, genetic testing of family members, and insurance discrimination.

For more information about genetic counseling, visit the following link: National Society of Genetic Counselors.

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My Second Round Of Covid

A hematologist is also a great person to ask about any of your anticoagulation therapy concerns. Warfarin and Lovenox will both be familiar to this specialty and will be a huge help in pin pointing any problems that you may be having staying within your therapeutic range.

If you have a clotting condition, your hematologist will help you to decide if you wish to remain on warfarin or another anticoagulant. She or he will also help you determine how to fly safely, have surgery, have a baby, use contraception, or any other life issues that may come up that may cause clotting or bleeding. Your hematologist will be useful for the rest of your life. Hang on to that phone number as he or she is the one to call whenever you are worried.

Comprehensive Care For Bleeding And Clotting Disorders

Access to Clinical TrialsOur doctors are involved in numerous clinical trials aimed at improving treatments for people with blood and clotting disorders. You may have the opportunity to participate in our ongoing clinical trials to test new therapies and surgical approaches before they become widely available at other centers.

Treatment of Rare Clotting DisordersOur specialists see patients with unusual and uncommon disorders. We coordinate your care with other specialists throughout Duke.

A Team of Specialists

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Diagnosing Deep Vein Thrombosis

Duplex ultrasonography is an imaging test that uses sound waves to look at blood flow. It can look for blockages or clots in the deep veins. The test is noninvasive, with no discomfort. Guthrie offers seven vascular study locations including Big Flats, Corning, Ithaca and Owego, N.Y. and Sayre, Towanda and Wellsboro, Pa.

Medication For Clotting Disorders

Blood thinners like heparin and warfarin decrease your bloods ability to clot or prevent a blood clot from getting bigger. Medicines such as rivaroxaban and dabigatran have been approved for the treatment of various disorders associated with blood clots. You may be given medicines that interfere with the blood-clotting process or dissolve large blood clots. Doctors can also insert a filter into the large vein known as the vena cava to stop blood clots before they can travel to your lungs.

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Signs And Symptoms Of Vte Are Not Always Obvious

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are two forms of VTE. Deep vein thrombosis is when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg or thigh. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs.

If you have deep vein thrombosis, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Swelling in legs or arms
• Pain or tenderness
• Increased warmth, cramps, or aching
• Red or discolored skin

Cardiovascular Specialists And Surgeons

At some point, you might meet with a cardiologist, a heart doctor whose specialty includes treating a variety of issues related to DVT.

If they determine that surgery could help you, you’ll also meet a cardiothoracic surgeon. They have training to operate on your heart. A cardiothoracic surgeon can perform life-saving procedures for DVT emergencies, like pulmonary embolisms.

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What Are Common Blood Diseases

We rely on our blood for many things. Red blood cells give our body energy by carrying oxygen to tissues throughout our bodies. White blood cells help our immune system fight infection. Platelets are blood cells that help slow and stop bleeding. Plasma is a liquid that holds your blood cells together.

If you have a blood disease, it means one or more parts of your blood arent working as they should. Some blood diseases are benign, meaning they arent cancer but theyre still serious illnesses.

Benign blood diseases/disorders

A benign blood disease or blood disorder affects your blood but isnt cancer. Here are some examples:

• Anemia: This disease happens when you dont have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. There are many types of anemia, but the most common type is iron-deficiency anemia.
• Von Willebrand Disease: This is the most common bleeding disorder in the United States.
• Hemophilia: This is an inherited blood disorder that impairs blood clotting.
• Sickle cell anemia: This inherited disorder that affects the shape of red cells
• Thalassemias: Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects your bodys ability to produce hemoglobin and healthy red blood cells.

Common blood cancers

There are many different blood cancer types. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the three most common blood cancers are:

Each blood cancer has many different sub-types.

Deep Vein Thrombosis Symptoms Can Include:

• Pain in your leg. The pain often starts in your calf and can feel like cramping or soreness.
• Red or discolored skin on the leg
• A feeling of warmth in the affected leg

If you are experiencing symptoms, contact your doctor.

A deep vein thrombosis can break loose and move to the lung, and cause a serious issue called pulmonary embolism. This is a life-threatening condition. If you are experiencing symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

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About Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms within the deep veins that carry blood to your heart. A clot can form after a period of inactivity — like after surgery, injury, or travel — or may be due to an underlying medical condition. The clot blocks blood flow in your vein, which can lead to swelling, pain, and skin redness and can make your skin warm to the touch. Some people with DVT have no symptoms. DVT is most common in the legs, but it can also occur in other areas of the body.

DVT and the Risk of Pulmonary EmbolismA pulmonary embolism occurs when a part of the blood clot breaks off and travels to your lungs. This can be fatal. When deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism occur together, it’s called venous thromboembolism .

Acute and Chronic DVTAcute DVT is a new blood clot that has existed for two to four weeks or less. Because a new clot is softer and only loosely attached to a vein wall, you may need to undergo a minimally invasive procedure to remove the clot. However, most people with acute DVT are treated with medications.

Chronic DVT refers to a blood clot that is more than about a month old or was previously diagnosed. Over time, blood clots harden and attach to vein walls, making them more difficult to treat. Chronic DVT can damage valves inside the affected vein. Treatment for chronic DVT aims to limit damage to the skin related to the blocked vein.

How Is Deep Vein Thrombosis Treated

Treatment for DVT is aimed at reducing the risk of clots forming and can include medication, surgery or equipment.

• Blood thinners medication to reduce the bloods ability to clot.
• Clot busters in severe cases thrombolytics can be used.
• Filters for times when blood thinners are not appropriate, a filter can be installed on the large vein that brings blood back to the heart.
• Compression stockings gentle compression on the calf helps blood flow improve.

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When Should You See A Hematologist

Your primary care doctor may refer you to a hematologist if you have the following symptoms or conditions:

• Anemia symptoms including fatigue, weakness, headache, dizziness, chest pain, brittle nails, hair loss, shortness of breath, fast or irregular heartbeat, pounding or whooshing sound in the ears, cold hands and feet, and pale or yellow skin

• Bleeding disorder symptoms including easy bruising, bleeding gums, heavy menstrual bleeding, excessive bleeding when cut, and frequent and unexplained nosebleeds

• Blood clotting disorder symptoms that may indicate a blood clot including unexplained arm or leg swelling or pain in your chest, arm or leg erratic or fast heartbeat and shortness of breath

• Leukemia symptoms including fever, chills, weakness, fatigue, headaches, night sweats, swollen tonsils, weight loss, bone pain, swollen or bleeding gums, enlarged liver and spleen, and pale skin with small red spots

• Lymphoma symptoms including swollen lymph nodes, fever, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, sweating, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and itchy skin with or without a rash

• Myeloma symptoms including anemia, frequent infections, bone pain, fractures, and weight loss. Other signs of myeloma your doctor may notice include anemia, too much calcium in your blood, osteoporosis, high protein levels in your blood or urine, and poor kidney function.

• Sickle cell anemia symptoms including dark urine, swelling of the hands and feet, pain, stunted growth, vision problems, and stroke

When Should You See A Vascular Specialist

Vascular Specialist fun fact: If our blood vessels were stretched end-to-end, they would wrap around the Earth twice. This system of cosmic proportions made up of flexible tubes, large and minuscule, makes up the vascular circulatory system. Vein and Artery Health is the mission of vascular surgeons.Any abnormal condition that impacts this system is considered to be vascular disease. You might imagine that vascular specialists focus solely on diseases that impact the vascular system, but thats not necessarily the case. Read on to learn more about the conditions treated by a vascular specialist, and the circumstances under which you should consult one.

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Hematologist Training And Certification

When choosing a hematologist, board certification should be one of your first priorities. A doctor may treat patients with blood disorders and diseases without becoming board certified in hematology. However, education, training, experience and certification establish a doctors level of competence. Board certification tells you the doctor has completed a rigorous training program and passed an exam demonstrating his or her expertise in hematology.

A board-certified hematologist has earned certification in hematology from the American Board of Internal Medicine or the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine.

This is the general pathway:

• Graduation from medical school or a college of osteopathic medicine

• Residency training and certification exam in internal medicine

• Additional training and certification exam in hematology

To maintain board certification in hematology, a doctor must participate in an ongoing certification program.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Blood Clot

Symptoms can range from barely noticeable to severe, Dr. Moll says.

Classic symptoms of DVT often involve the foot, ankle, calf, the entire leg or an arm. You may experience pain, swelling, discoloration and warmth. Because symptoms can be subtle, they may be confused with those of a sprained ankle, cramp or pulled muscle, which can delay a correct diagnosis.

A PE may cause shortness of breath, chest pain, unexplained cough and unexplained rapid heart rate. PE symptoms may be misinterpreted as new onset of asthma, a respiratory infection such as a mild pneumonia or inflammation in the breastbone or ribs.

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Your Ongoing Care Specialist Guide

Facing recovery from a DVT and PE can be overwhelming, scary, and very uncertain, to say the least. Which doctor should you see for what and when? There are so many options available and diagnosis, treatment and procedures vary greatly from one person to the other. Here is your Ongoing Care Specialist Guide from BCRN.

Primary Care Physician/Provider

• Role: The primary care physician is also your family doctor or main point of contact for most undiagnosed health concerns. He or she is the place where you often begin either to diagnose a problem or return for ongoing care. The care of a PCP is not limited by cause, organ system, or diagnosis and may also refer you to a specialist. A PCP may be an MD , DO or NP
• Benefit: Many patients continue visiting their PCP for medication management and regular INR testing. A trustworthy PCP is also beneficial to have as a starting point for any new medical concerns that may arise during your treatment.
• Personal story: I credit my PCP with saving my life because he was immediately able to identify the pain in my leg and the pain in my side as a DVT/PE and instruct me to go to the ER immediately. While I do not see him for my ongoing INR and warfarin management , he is integral in my care and remains my main point of contact for everyday concerns and illnesses.
• More: Find more information at the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Hematologist

Coumadin Clinic

Pulmonologist

Cardiologist

Rheumatologist

Behaviors And Lifestyle Factors Are Important For Preventing Vte

A sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and smoking all increase a persons risk for blood clots, says Dr. Stewart.

Stewart notes that while many patients are aware that smoking is bad for cardiovascular disease and blood pressure, they dont realize that smoking is also bad for blood clots.

You cant change some risk factors, like age or family history, but behaviors are within your control. For example, if you have a job where you sit a lot, be sure to get up and move around periodically. If you smoke, quit. Maintain a healthy diet and get regular exercise.

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What Procedures And Treatments Does A Hematologist Do

Hematologists order or perform various procedures and treatments to manage blood diseases and conditions. Common procedures and treatments include:

• Anemia treatments including blood transfusions, vitamin and nutritional therapy, and antibiotics and immune suppressants to treat hemolytic anemia, and medications to increase blood cell production

• Bleeding treatments including medications and transfusion of factor VIII to treat hemophilia A

• Blood cancer treatments including chemotherapy, biological therapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell therapy

• Bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia, aplastic anemia, and some immune deficiency diseases

• Clotting treatments including anti-clotting medications , clot-busting drugs, and catheter-directed thrombolysis, which is a minimally invasive procedure to treat blood clots