There’s so much in the world today that can cause worry. We believe that quality information offers peace of mind. When you know more, you can make proactive life decisions that are important in preventing many health concerns. That’s why we’ve chosen to have a conversation about blood clots - a topic not many people enjoy discussing. But information is power. That’s why we’ve compiled an easy list of ten indicators that you may have an increased risk for a blood clot.
Some of them, like genetics, you can’t control. But the good news is that many of them, you can. Lifestyle changes with diet, exercise and even medication can make a big difference. If you discover that one or more of these are present in your life, it simply means you should discuss them with your healthcare provider. Together, you can create a proactive plan for managing your health.
Ideally, you want to avoid having a DVT blood clot in the first place since a DVT is an indicator of increased DVT risk in the future.
Extra belly fat puts pressure on the blood vessels in the abdomen and pelvis. The leg veins connect with the pelvic veins, and when these veins are pressed on by the abdomen, the blood does not flow well out of the legs. This causes slow circulation which is one of the big risks for developing blood clots. The main antidote is to lose weight, since no intervention has been shown to completely eliminate blood clot risks for overweight people..
If you cannot walk and move around due to recent illness, trauma or surgery, the blood does not circulate normally. If some condition has you confined to bed, no matter what your age, you are at significant risk of developing a blood clot. This is why blood clots are so common in sick people in the hospital. Blood clots in bedridden people are also more extensive and life threatening. The best prevention is to walk regularly during the day, and if you can’t, then a combination of leg pumps and blood thinners can reduce your risk.
If you have to spend an extended period of time in a cramped seat or chair without getting up and around, you are at increased risk of DVT. People who are sitting at work all day without getting up to move around are at increased risk. People who take long airplane or car trips are at risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The risk goes up the longer you are sitting and the longer the time between getting up and walking around. You can reduce the risk by wearing compression socks or by getting up and moving around at least once an hour. For those who cannot get up and walk, blood thinners may be needed to reduce the risk of blood clots.
It’s normal for women to gain weight during pregnancy, and as the baby grows, so does the uterus. The uterus can put pressure on the veins in the pelvis, and this can cause slow blood flow and puts the mother at risk of DVTs. Sometimes pregnancy can indicate a blood clotting disorder, and this occurs when the mother has had a series of spontaneous miscarriages. The miscarriages can be due to an undiagnosed blood clotting disorder which can be easily determined with a blood test.
Millions of women are prescribed estrogen for various health reasons ranging from irregular menstruation, birth control and unwanted symptoms of menopause. The strength varies, and some higher strength prescriptions carry increased risk for some people. Estrogen therapy increases clotting factors for people who are smoking, so if you have to be on them and smoke you will need to quit smoking or your estrogens.
Some cancers have a higher than normal risk of blood clots. In some cases, the presence of a blood clot is the first clue that an unsuspected cancer is present. Chemotherapy is also a risk factor for blood clotting, and DVTs can occur during the treatment phase. Cancer types known to increase the risk of having a blood clot, include pancreas, liver, uterus, lungs, ovaries, prostate, brain, kidney, leukemia and lymphoma. If you are concerned that this is going on, make sure you speak with your provider about your concerns so that it can be addressed.
Smoking alone isn’t a big risk factor for DVT blood clots, but if you are also taking estrogens, your risk for DVT goes up. If you need to be on estrogens, make sure you quit smoking, and if you need to smoke, make sure you quit the estrogens. Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things to do, and it helps to get some assistance from your provider and with medications like Chantix or wellbutrin. Ask your provider for help on this.
Broken bones, pulled muscles, and surgical incisions can interfere with blood flow and can cause a direct injury to the veins. Injuries or surgery to the leg are especially at risk for blood clots. Major surgery of the abdomen, pelvis or chest also increases risk by reducing mobility. The antidote is to walk several times a day, and if this is not feasible, then leg compression pumps and blood thinners will reduce your risk. You have an increased risk of blood clot until your activity and mobility returns to normal.
If you have untreated varicose veins or venous reflux disease, you are at greater risk for a blood clot. These enlarged, bulging and usually painful veins have very slow blood flow in them which is why they are prone to blood clots. In some cases, if a varicose vein forms a blood clot it can extend and form a DVT. A simple office or virtual vein screen can let you get this sorted out.
If family members have had blood clots, you need to be aware of the possibility for yourself. There are a number of genetic conditions that can predispose you to having a blood clot, and one thing to understand is that most genetic conditions are due to abnormalities in the gene from both the mother and father . Often people only have one copy of the abnormal gene (from one of their parents) and the there is enough normal activity in the other copy of the gene (from their other parent) so that the risk of clotting is not increased. Health insurance usually pays for genetic testing if you have a blood clot, but it may not pay if you haven’t already been diagnosed even if you have family members. If you feel that you should have specific testing, work with your provider to get this approved by insurance.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to be aware of the risk factors, adjust your lifestyle to adapt healthier habits and reduce risk factors that you have control over like diet and exercise. Finally, address any risk factors that may be connected to untreated varicose veins or vein reflux by scheduling a free vein screening. Find out if vein reflux is a contributor and then seek treatment by a vein specialist.
If you would like to know more about your risk for blood clots, download our free ebook “Blood Clots and Your Leg Veins: What You Should Know.”