A Red, Hot, Swollen Leg: Could It Be DVT?

…suffering from a red, hot, swollen, painful leg, don't ignore it, especially if it's one-sided. It could be a deep vein thrombosis. In and of itself, that's quite concerning, and it has local problems that it can cause. But if the clot breaks off and goes towards the lungs, that is a pulmonary embolus, and it can be fatal.

Unfortunately, patients with cancer and some haematological conditions are much more prone to blood clots in general, and therefore to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli. But for those of us who don't have those conditions, long-haul flights, in particular when you're dehydrated and not moving, periods of immobility and major orthopaedic surgery are all contributors.

So don't ignore it if it happens. Go and see a vascular surgeon and get checked out. It's a simple duplex ultrasound scan to check…