Bengaluru: Women popping oral contraceptive pills for trivial reasons and opting for hormonal manipulation are at risk of developing Deep Vein Thrombosis(DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE), warn doctors.
"A number of teenagers and women in their twenties are coming down with these conditions and after a lot of investigation we found they have been popping iPills to alter their pregnancy dates and also after unprotected sex. This irrational use is worrisome," said Dr Vivekanand, senior consultant, and vascular surgeon, Sri Mahaveer Jain Hospital. Women, who are undergoing fertility treatments, are also at risk of developing DVT, he warns.
While thrombosis is caused by the formation of a blood clot in the deep veins of a limb (usually lower limb) , PE is caused when this clot travels to the lungs. The result is VTE, a life threatening medical condition, explain doctors.
Worryingly, its incidence has increased by 10% to 12% over the last year, according to them. "We have seen a rise in cases of Pulmonary Embolism over the last year in Bengaluru. Globally, each year, VTE affects about 10 million people and kills one in four people," revealed Dr Ajith Kumar AK, president, Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM) Bengaluru chapter and senior consultant, intensive care, Manipal Hospitals.
Symptoms of DVT include swelling and pain especially of lower limbs, increase in heart rate and fever. "If there is a unilateral swollen limb we think in terms of DVT and confirm it with tests and scan," explained Dr Vivekanand.
"The diagnosis as inexpensive as an ultrasound of an abdomen. So if people notice the symptoms they must consult a doctor immediately," stressed Dr Venkatesh HK, senior consultant and chief, division of neuro-anesthesia and neuro-critical Care, Apollo Hospitals.
