{"id":14610,"date":"2020-04-03T08:11:17","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T08:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=14610"},"modified":"2021-05-07T17:06:50","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T17:06:50","slug":"14-common-causes-of-phlebitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-causes-of-phlebitis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Causes of Phlebitis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Phlebitis is a medical term referring to inflammation of a vein. Our veins consist of blood vessels that carry blood to limbs and organs before returning it to the heart. Thrombophlebitis describes the condition when a blood clot starts to form in the vein. When the clot is deep inside the vein, medical science refers to it as deep vein thrombophlebitis, otherwise known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The types of phlebitis are either deep or superficial. Superficial phlebitis describes the inflammation of veins near the skin’s surface. This type of phlebitis occurs due to the irritation of the vein from an instrument such as an intravenous catheter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deep phlebitis Is a far more severe medical condition referring to the inflammation of larger or deeper veins in the legs. This condition is more likely to appear due to a blood clot, and it can have severe, life-threatening consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 14 common causes of phlebitis.
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1.     IV Placement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Persons admitted to the hospital, or emergency room may need to undergo treatment with intravenous fluids or medications. Medical staff will often place a catheter into a patient’s vein and secure it for long term use throughout the patients stay at the ward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the placement of the needle and its prolonged stay in the vein, create significant amounts of irritation in the surrounding blood vessels<\/a>. Irritation of the veins due to IV placement is one of the leading causes of superficial phlebitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the patient notices that they start to experience inflammation around the catheter placement site, the skin will begin to swell and turn red. At this stage, the patient may experience an infection in the catheter placement site, requiring immediate removal of the IV, and treatment for infection in the localized area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This type of superficial phlebitis does not cause a life-threatening injury unless left untreated and managed by the medical staff.
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2.     Intravenous Inflammatory Medications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common cause of superficial phlebitis is the use of intravenous inflammatory medications in a monitored medical setting. Some anti-inflammatory drugs may irritate the IV site, leading to the formation of a blockage in the affected vein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While anti-inflammatory<\/a> drugs will reduce irritation and inflammation in blood vessels, some individuals may have an adverse reaction to these medications. As a result, administration of theses intravenous drugs can cause the formation of a blood clot, or superficial phlebitis, in the affected individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, this is also not a medical emergency, and the patient will recover easily provided they received the correct medical attention. If left undiagnosed, untreated, and unmanaged, the patient may develop a severe blood clot that could cause a complication leading to a life-threatening situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newborns and premature babies that receive intravenous medications after birth are the high risk of developing superficial phlebitis that could progress into a severely life-threatening situation for the child.
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3.     Clots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people may have a predisposition to developing blood clots<\/a>. In most cases, this is a genetic clotting disorder that is challenging for both the patient and physician to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient may find that they experience frequent clotting of the veins in the upper body around the shoulders and the upper arms. Individuals may also experience clots in the veins in the neck and back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of these clots easily managed with anticoagulant medications and blood thinners that the patient takes on a prescribed basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The individual’s doctor will ensure that they regularly check up on the status of their patient, depending on the severity of the situation. each patient will have a unique response to this genetic disorder, and it’s crucial for the physician to get a good handle on what’s happening in the person on a case by case basis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individuals who do have genetic clotting disorders may find that they will need to spend their entire life on chronic medication to control the situation. Failing to adhere to the medication protocol may end up in a clot moving towards the cardiovascular system where can cause a life-threatening condition.
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4.     Infection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections are also responsible for some cases of superficial phlebitis. Some pathogens <\/a>are more aggressive than others and may start to cause the onset of phlebitis. Patients who experience an infection around an IV site or a cut must lookout for the common signs of and symptoms of infection. These signs include fever, redness, pain, swelling, and a breakdown in the integrity of the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical staff must attend to this infection immediately to prevent it from spreading. If left untreated and unmanaged, the infection may spread and cause clotting in the deep veins, resulting in a life-threatening situation for the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in most cases, patients will receive the attention they need from medical staff, and the infection will subside in a few days. Superficial phlebitis will also start to fade, and the patient will make a full recovery from the infection without any lasting damage, two blood vessels or veins.
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5.     Injury<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A severe injury <\/a>or trauma to a vein deep in the legs may result in the onset of deep vein thrombosis in the affected individual. Trauma such as a broken femur bone, due to a severe injury or car accident, can cause an acute clot in one of the large arteries found in the upper legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the trauma causing the onset of deep vein thrombosis, the patient may require immediate surgery to remove the clot and prevent it from moving up towards the heart. In severe cases, if the patient does not receive surgery to remove the clot or the necessary medications to mitigate its size, it may move up towards the heart, causing a heart attack in the affected individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The irritation or injury of veins that are deep in the body is a far more serious case than superficial phlebitis. However, some cases of DVT do not require immediate surgery and can do well with the administration of anticoagulant medications designed to shrink the size of the clot.
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6.     Prolonged Bed Rest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients were involved in accidents <\/a>in the workplace or vehicle accidents that require them to be in a state of bed rest, are risk of developing symptoms related to DVT. This situation is also the case for patients that experience injuries that require them to remain hospitalized for a few weeks after the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the patient lies horizontal for extended periods and cannot receive any daily exercise to move the legs, they become a high risk for the onset of DVT symptoms. It’s for this reason that many patients will require the use of a physiotherapist to move the legs around and get the blood moving to prevent any clots from forming in the major arteries deep in the legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients confined to bed rest for prolonged periods may also require the use of anticoagulants or blood thinner medications. The physician will administer these drugs in IV management systems to prevent the onset of DVT in the affected individual.
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7.     Lack of Movement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are either confined to bed rest or do not move much during the day due to a sedentary lifestyle<\/a>, are also at the risk of developing DVT. The risk increases if the individual is older than the age of 65. for instance, the elderly often spend days sitting in a chair watching TV or playing cards with friends. They seldom get up and may have medication or food brought to their chair as they go about their day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the individual does not receive some sort of exercise during the day to stimulate the legs and the muscles in the hips, they increase their risk of developing DVT symptoms. DVT is a very dangerous form of phlebitis that can end up causing a life-threatening situation for seniors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those seniors that are living a sedentary lifestyle due to mobility issues such as arthritic conditions like arthritis may require the use of blood-thinning medications. These drugs ensure that a severe case of deep phlebitis does not occur in the veins in the legs.
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8.     Hormone Replacement Therapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Men and women who are using hormone replacement therapy also at a higher risk of developing symptoms of DVT or deep phlebitis. Hormone <\/a>replacement therapy products, such as birth control pills, may cause changes in the patients’ veins and blood vessels, resulting in the development of clots. It’s uncommon for the patient to develop severe clots that may become life-threatening, but it does occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those individuals affected by clots due to the use of hormone replacement therapy products such as birth control pills will need regular monitoring by their doctor to ensure that they do not receive any severe clotting issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The physician may put the patient on an anticoagulant or blood-thinning medication to ensure that no severe clotting symptoms occur. Those individuals affected by clotting due to HRT drugs may want to reconsider the use of their existing protocol. If the HRT is not entirely necessary, it might be a good decision to stop using the medication.
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9.     Airplane Travel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Individuals that frequently travel on airplanes may find that they are in a high-risk group for developing the symptoms of deep phlebitis<\/a>. DVT occurs in these individuals due to them sitting in seated positions during long-distance flights for up to 24 to 36-hours at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the lack of movement, combined with the stress of the travel seating position, the patient is at high risk of developing DVT symptoms in the 24 to 36-hours after getting off the plane. The risk is higher to those individuals that are either overweight or obese and step on planes for long international flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do travel for business often; then, we recommend that you consult with your doctor. Have your physician give you a complete physical to ensure that you’re in the right shape to endure long-distance travel on planes, or other forms of transport, like trains, buses, and coaches.
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10.  Cancer Medications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Undergoing cancer therapy is an incredibly difficult situation that the body must deal with in its battle for survival against this terrible disease. Some forms of cancer treatment of far more aggressive than others and may involve radiation treatment therapies like chemotherapy protocols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cancer <\/a>patients that undergo chemotherapy treatment might often experience extreme changes to their physiology, involving losing their hair and changes in this appearance of their skin, as well as an overall weakening of the immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, these changes that occur due to chemotherapy protocols may also cause the onset of symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. Cancer therapy can leave the patient feeling sluggish and tired all day, causing them to limit movement and increase the risk of DVT symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some doctors may also administer chemotherapy medications using IV treatment. Therefore, chemotherapy patients are also at risk of developing superficial phlebitis as well. The patient’s doctor will have to monitor their progress with the chemotherapy continually. They must ensure that the patient does not begin to experience the symptoms of either superficial or deep phlebitis.
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11.  Pregnancy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Women who are pregnant also increase the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis. Pregnancy <\/a>involves an increase in hormones available in the body, which may cause complications with blood flow and blood vessels. Pregnant women are more prone to developing forms of clotting deep in the veins in the legs or the upper arms during the pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When DVT occurs in pregnant women, it’s often associated with the swelling of the clot, known as thrombophlebitis. Thrombophlebitis is an incredibly life-threatening situation if it does not receive treatment right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the extent of the situation, the physician may elect to treat the patient with blood thinners, or they may require surgery to remove the clot. However, there is also a chance that during the operation, the surgeon may not be able to remove the entire clot. As a result, the clot may return at a later stage, presenting the pregnant woman what’s another life-threatening situation to her and her child.
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12.  Obesity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The United States is dealing with rising levels of obesity <\/a>that can cause a public health crisis. Obese individuals are the high risk of developing adverse health complications, such as diabetes. They are also at risk for developing other forms of chronic disease that affect the liver, kidneys, and internal organs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obesity has a very high comorbidity rate in affected individuals. It’s a significant risk factor for the development of deep phlebitis and thrombophlebitis. Obese individuals that end up developing symptoms of DVT may require either surgery or management of the situation with medications to slow the progression of the clot and minimize its size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without treatment, an obese individual is most likely to experience the onset of thrombophlebitis, which will result in severe health complications that may end up killing the patient. Obese individuals will need to get their health under control and bring the body weight down to a suitable BMI to avoid being in a high-risk category for DVT.
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13.  Smoking and Alcohol Abuse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People that drink alcohol to excess or also in the high-risk category for the development of deep vein thrombosis symptoms. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause issues with other internal organs such as the digestive system, kidneys, and liver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the body is unable to remove toxins from the bloodstream <\/a>due to dysfunction in this organ, the patient becomes at high risk for the development of DVT symptoms. Alcoholics also experience issues with the liver and kidneys that may present complications with DVT leading to the onset of thrombophlebitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People that smoke cigarettes are also at risk of damaging the respiratory system leading to the onset of symptoms of DVT in the veins and arteries of the chest, arms, and legs. Smoking causes untold damage to the circulatory system and complicates the effects of existing conditions that may be a high-risk factor for the development of DVT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are dealing with issues regarding alcoholism or trying to quit the habit of smoking, speak to your doctor for advice on how to quit and find the support you need.
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14.  Being Over 60<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most significant risk profile for the development of either superficial phlebitis or deep vein thrombosis, which leads to the onset of thrombophlebitis, is being over the age of 60 years old. Seniors are the highest risk group for the condition due to the slowdown in the circulatory system due to the normal aging process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we age, the rate of protein synthesis declines, and we start to experience the onset of the signs of aging. Patients may notice a decrease in the elasticity of the skin, and wrinkles will begin to appear in the face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, aging also has a detrimental effect on the circulatory system. Those seniors with comorbidity issues, such as diabetes or hypertension<\/a>, may find that they are at a higher risk of developing the symptoms of DVT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seniors over the age of 60 years old should see their physician at least once every six months for a checkup. Those seniors with comorbidities should see their doctor at least once every quarter for a thorough physical and blood work test.
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