How do I care for someone with deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?

It is possible to cure DVT by following a treatment plan as prescribed by your healthcare provider of anticoagulants (medication to treat the blood clot), regular exercise of calf muscles throughout the day, and elastic support stockings that you may have to wear. None of these treatment options, is designed to break up an existing blood clot, but rather to prevent it from getting larger and breaking away and blocking the artery (blood vessel) in the lungs. Blood clots may break up on their own. In addition, your doctor may have you receive intravenous (IV) thrombolytics (medication), to help break up blood clots in your body.