The Deep Vein Thrombosis condition (DVT) has been known for many years but only recently has it been brought to public attention. DVT can be brought on by sitting in the same position for a long periods, for example on an aeroplane, coach journeys and in residential homes.
It can take as little as 3 hours to bring on DVT. The legs become cramped and the ankles swell so that the blood can no longer circulate freely. This leads to small clots forming on the underside of the feet, at the ankles and the lower legs. These small clots can then become dislodged and pass through the lower veins and eventually become trapped in the arteries. This can then result in shortness of breath, chest pains, severe hypoxia and in the worst case death