Poor blood circulation can cause you develop blood clots, says Kaiser Permanente. Blood clots may block the flow of blood and cause serious health problems such as stroke, heart attack and pulmonary embolism. Blood clots (also called deep vein thrombosis) most often occur in people who can’t move around well or who have had recent surgery or an injury. Blood clots are serious. It is important to know the signs and get treated right away. Blood clots are preventable, yet an estimated 900,000 Americans are affected each year, resulting in nearly 100,000 deaths.
A blood clot typically occurs in the lower leg, thigh, pelvis, or arm. When a DVT is left untreated, a part of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs, causing a blockage called a pulmonary embolism (PE). A PE can be deadly by preventing blood from reaching the lungs. Although anyone can be affected by a blood clot, certain risk factors, such as hospitalization, pregnancy, cancer, and some types of cancer treatments, can increase a person’s chance of developing one. Other risk factors, such as limited movement due to extended travel or bed rest, a personal or family history of blood clots, or injury to a vein, can increase a person’s chance of developing a blood clot.
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Causes of Blood Clots
Anyone can develop a blood clot. Up to 80 percent of people who develop a blood clot that forms in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) have at least one or more risk factors.
Risk factors can be inherited and are present at birth or acquired, meaning they develop during your lifetime. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of situations and conditions that can raise your risk. Some of these factors include:
- Genetics and age. People of any gender can develop a blood clot. Black people, older adults, people with blood types other than O, and people with certain genetic mutations and inherited protein deficiencies are more likely to experience blood clots.
- Pregnancy or childbirth. People who are pregnant or have recently had a baby are at a higher risk for blood clots. Researchers think the body increases its ability to coagulate blood as a means of protection from too much blood loss during delivery.
- Hormonal contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies. Birth control pills that contain hormones can raise your risk of blood clots in your legs or lungs by 3- to 9-fold. Some estrogen and progestin therapies used by transgender people and people in menopause can also cause blood clots. The risk may increase the longer you take the medications.
- Surgery. Any surgery can increase your risk of developing a blood clot. If your surgery took a long time or you were immobile for a long time afterward, you risk is higher. This is especially true if you are older or you’ve had a blood clot in the past.
- Trauma. Any trauma to your body elevates your blood clot risk. One 2020 study that screened trauma patients for blood clots found that people with low blood pressure, congestive heart failure, or a pelvic fracture were more likely to form a blood clot in the first 48 hours after the traumatic injury. People who experienced head injuries, were placed on ventilators, or received blood transfusions also had higher odds of blood clots in the study.
- Previous blood clots. If you have had a blood clot before, you may be more likely to have another. It’s important to let a healthcare professional know that you have experienced a clot in the past, especially if you are going to have surgery.
- Travel. If you have recently taken a trip that required you to be on a long flight or to sit in a vehicle for a prolonged period of time, your risk of developing a blood clot is 2 to 4 times higher in the weeks following travel.
Symptoms of a Blood Clot
You may have a blood clot if you see or feel:
- New swelling in your arm or leg.
- Skin redness.
- Soreness or pain in your arm or leg.
- A warm spot on your leg.
Blood clots can be dangerous. A blood clot may have gone to your lungs if you suddenly have:
- A hard time breathing.
- Chest pain.
- A fast heartbeat.
- Fainting spells.
- A mild fever.
- A cough, with or without blood.
Preventing Blood Clots
Many times, people with blood clots don’t have any symptoms until a complication occurs. For that reason, it’s important to do what you can to lower your risk of developing a blood clot. Here’s some expert advice on what to do and what to avoid.
Maintain a healthy weight
Having obesity is associated with increased pressure inside your abdomen, being less active, and having long-term inflammation in your body. All of these factors can raise your risk of blood clots. Talk with a healthcare professional about healthy ways to reduce your weight, if needed.
Stay active
Regular exercise appears to lower your chances of developing a blood clot. It is important to note that if you have been inactive or immobile for a long period, light to moderate physical activity is probably a better idea than intense exercise. This is because there is a very small risk of loosening a blood clot if you overdo it.
If you’re not sure what level of activity level is healthiest for you, you can discuss different kinds of exercise with a healthcare professional first.
Hydrate
Dehydration is thought to increase the odds of developing a blood clot. Therefore, it’s important to drink plenty of water each day, especially if you have other risk factors for blood clots.
Stop smoking
If you smoke, now is the time to stop. Research shows that smoking— even if you use an e-cigarette — raises your risk of developing a dangerous blood clot. There are many tools to help you quit. If you’re not sure which method is right for you, talk through your options with a healthcare professional.
Break up long periods of sitting
If travel, a health condition, or the nature of your job require you to sit for long periods of time, it’s important to get up and move as often as you are able. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that you stand, stretch (feet, ankles, and legs), and move around every 2 to 3 hours if possible to prevent a clot from forming.
Watch your sodium level
Paying attention to your sodium level can be key in lowering your odds of a blood clot. Sodium levels that are too high or too low can lead to problems with blood clots, a 2018 cohort study showed.
Consider compression
In some cases, compression socks and stockings or special sleeves can be used to keep a blood clot from forming or moving. You can discuss compression options with a healthcare professional, and you can check out our tips for choosing compression garments here.
Take prescribed medications
Certain medications can be used to prevent blood clots from forming, dissolve existing blood clots, or keep them from growing any more. These include blood thinners, thrombin inhibitors, and thrombolytics.
You may want to discuss these medications with a healthcare professional if you have certain risk factors for developing a blood clot. We’ll talk about these in the next section.
Conclusion
Most people do not know about the dangers of blood clots and how they can affect their lives on a day-to-day basis. While blood clots are a common on a daily basis, some may also be unaware of blood clot prevention methods as well as the dangers of anticoagulation therapy. Having a blood clot or suffering from any kind of blood clot is certainly something you want to avoid at all costs.