When you’re on anticoagulants, you may have concerns that you’re not quite sure about. Should you bother your doctor? My patients often bring up these concerns towards the end of a visit and start by saying, “Should I be worried, doctor?” It is essential to mention anything that bothers you rather than silently worrying. Some concerns are more important than others. In this … [Read more...]
COVID, clots and shots – Heart Disease
I tell all my patients, "You don't want to get COVID". This is especially true if you have heart disease. Soon after the pandemic started, it became clear that people with heart problems were more likely to end up in hospital and get severe disease. So what is the risk, and why is the disease worse? Risk factors Most people think of COVID as a flu-like illness … [Read more...]
Long-term impact of venous thrombosis
I normally tell my patients that they are likely to make a full recovery from a deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolus. Unfortunately some people do develop long-term complications such as post phlebitic syndrome causing chronic leg problems, but in general I do not expect long-term problems. However there is some evidence that having a DVT or PE can have an impact on day … [Read more...]