BLOOD CLOTS IN LUNGS INCREASING AMONG ATHLETES
by: Rich Bagienski
Martha Iverson and Rich Bagienski returned from St. Johann Austria after racing in the UCI Master World Cycling Championships, late August of this year. Iverson, a former world champion, was 4th in the time trial and 6th in her road race. Bagienski was 39th in the TT and 54th in the road race.
Rich works hard in the 90F heat and sun. Martha climbs in the cold and rain.
He then said “Less than a year ago I didn’t know if I would ride again, much less race. Last December I was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot in my left leg. The clot broke several times, the pieces traveled through the heart, and lodged in the lungs. I now had eleven pulmonary emboli, blood clots in the lungs. Needless to say I was hospitalized and place on blood thinners for 4 months. I’d like to share some info that may help lessen your odds developing a DVT.”
All the following info is from my experience, web information, professional athletes, and conversation with ER doctors and sports medicine MD’s.
The DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS, DVT, and PULMONARY EMBOLISM, PE, rates are increasing in athletes. This includes runners, cyclists, and triathletes. The initial clots result when blood does not circulate properly and pools in the veins. About 80% of PE’s are the result of clots moving from the deep veins of the legs, DVT, into the lungs. There are many reasons for DVT formation, but I’ll list the ones that mostly effect athletes.
1.DEHYDRATION essentially thickens the blood and requires more force to move the blood.
After a long race or hard ride REHYDRATE. Water alone won’t due it. Use drinks that contain electrolytes for faster re-hydration. Some athletes require IV feeds because they are too dehydrated. When on the road to re-hydration your urine will be normal color, not dark or clear.
2.INJURIES and INFLAMATION can cause a section of the vein to malfunction and not operate to help push the blood.
Use compression hose after the event and when traveling. This helps recovery. They also help the blood flow in the legs.
3.SLOW CIRCULATION caused by low blood pressure or a slow heart rate.
Sitting in one position when traveling will lower your heart rate, decrease blood pressure, and may restrict vein diameters. Sleeping in the car or plane increases these affects. Recover before you travel. Even if it means traveling the next day. When traveling, take the time to walk around and do knee bends. Every 60 to 90 minutes is good. This stimulates the muscles, elevates heart rate, and raises blood pressure thus increasing blood flow.
Again, use compression hose when traveling. They are available in knee high, thigh high, or full panty hose. Many athletes you see in magazines and on TV wear these leggings.
4.GENETICS can increase the odds of a DVT.
Special blood tests are done to check for certain protein and enzyme levels when blood clots are discovered. These proteins and enzymes control the blood clotting. If your tests are abnormal, you may require the blood thinner regimen beyond the time initially determined by your physician.
Other contributors to a DVT are congenital abnormalities of venal anatomy, May-Thurner syndrome, cervical rib causing an outlet obstruction, and problems with the vena cava, the main abdomen vein.
COMMON SYMPTONS of DVT and PE
a
DVT: PE:
1.Swelling of leg or arm 1. Shortness of breath
2.Pain in leg or arm. May only feel like a sore muscle 2. Sharp stabbing chest pain, especially when breathing
3.Discoloration of leg or arm 3. Rapid heart rate
4.Continuous tingling sensations when leg or arm is still 4. Coughing up blood or blood streaked sputum
Lastly, the death rate for untreated PE is 18-30%, and the death rate for treated PE is 1-5% depending on the survey. It took my experience with the PE to realize mediocre is good.
(Scribes Note: Thanks Rich for the current and important information.)