Deep Vein Thrombosis

Health statistics of the European Union countries demonstrate
that a third of the female and up to a fourth of male
population suffers from problems of surface or deep veins.

Changes on surface veins usually do not cause any serious consequences,
while thrombosis of the deep vein system can have a fatal outcome.
Paralyzed people, as well as patients who, due to serious fractures or
operations have been immobile for a long time, are at risk of this disease,
which is even more probable if there is also a genetic predisposition for it.
This especially pertains to women who use hormonal contraception
during sexual relations.
Namely, estrogen, a hormone which is found in the pills, can cause
thrombosis that develops in the vein after long term use, while in women
with mutations on certain genes the risk is increased up to a couple of
hundred times.
According to the thus far collected scientific facts, changes on three genes cause
hereditary thromophilia – increased tendency to develop blood clots
(and as such they are factor 5 Lieden (R506Q), factor 2 (Prothrombin 20210A),
and  MTHFR-methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (677C>T)). Mutations on the
gene for factor 5 Lieden appear in eight percent of the world population,
and people in which both variations of the genes on the chromosomes match
(homozygots) acquire this illness 80 times more often than others.

The blood clot which is formed, can reach various parts of the body via
circulation and can cause the blockage of blood vessels, and therefore heart
attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism (blockage of lung arteries).

The Helix laboratory enables genetic testing for this type of predisposition,
and recommends that you undertake it before commencing to use contraceptives,
and especially before pregnancy. Results are issued in a day.