There are certain lifestyle choices that we can make to minimize our risks for developing these dangerous clots, which range from small actions while traveling to major lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, losing weight, and getting active. Among the steps you can take to minimize your risk for a blood clot:
Know Whether You’re At Risk.
Being aware of your risk level for a blood clot can help you make informed decisions regarding your overall lifestyle decisions and help you heed early warning signs if a clot does develop. Among the factors that can put you at an increased risk for developing a blood clot:
● Age: If you’re over the age of 65, you’re at an increased risk for developing a blood clot
● Being Bedridden: If you have been bedridden as a result of a hospitalization, injury, chronic illness or other condition, your chances of a clot rise
● Travel: If you travel frequently for work or leisure, especially if you spend extended periods of time on airplanes, trains, or on car trips, there is an increased risk for developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a clot which typically develops in an extremity, which can dislodge and travel to the heart, lungs or brain.
● Smoking: Being a smoker puts you at risk
● Birth Control/Hormone Replacement Therapy: If you are taking birth control that has high levels of estrogen, such as birth control pills, or if you are on hormone replacement therapy, especially if you are over the age of 35, the likelihood of a clot rises.
● Pregnancy: If you are pregnant or if you recently had a baby (especially in the first six weeks after childbirth), you are at an increased risk for developing a DVT.
● Obesity: If you are obese or overweight, you may be at an increased risk for developing a clot, because of the strain put on your legs.
● Genetics: If you have a family history of blood clots, you may be at an increased risk.
If you meet the criteria for being at risk, have your blood pressure checked regularly, and be on the alert for any symptoms of blood clots, which can include:
● Swelling in an extremity, often accompanied by heat, throbbing or sharp pain, or tenderness
● Discoloration (reddish or bluish) in an area of skin in an extremity
● Sudden shortness of breath, which may be accompanied by shooting chest pain that may or may not get worse when you try to breathe or cough
● Faintness or dizziness
● Irregular or racing heartbeat
● Clammy or bluish skin
● Pain in the arm, jaw, neck, or shoulder
If you develop any of these symptoms, you should seek emergency medical treatment to rule out or diagnose you with a pulmonary embolism (PE), a potentially life-threatening blood clot that has lodged in the lungs or pulmonary artery.
Want to stave off deadly clots, implement these life-saving measures in your life.
Stay Active.
When you’re sedentary for long periods of time, blood can pool in the legs, increasing your odds of developing a DVT. If you work at a desk all day, if you’re taking a long flight or going on a long car trip, you should get up and stretch your legs every two hours or so.
There are also exercises that you can do from your desk or plane seat, such as contracting and relaxing your leg muscles. These movements help keep your blood flowing. Being active in your day-to-day life and exercising on a regular basis can also help minimize your risk for developing a blood clot.
Exercise routines such as walking, biking, or swimming are great for overall health, and are low-impact activities for people who may not otherwise be able to participate in rigorous activities.
If you are immobilized because of an injury, hospitalization, or illness, invest in special leg cuffs that use compression to minimize your risk for developing a DVT. You can also lower your risk of developing a blood clot by raising the bottom of your bed four to six inches, and by avoiding using pillows under the knee, which will affect blood flow to the lower legs.
Quit Smoking.
This is pretty much a no-brainer. If you smoke, quit. Snuff out the cigs. if you can't do it on your own, look into smoking cessation programs or products such as nicotine gum, patches, acupuncture or hypnotism.
Check Your Meds.
If you are over the age of 35, or if you are a smoker, taking birth control pills can put you at a high risk for developing a DVT. If you have either of these risks, or if you have another risk factor, such as weight, a family history of DVT, or if you are immobile, explore birth control or hormone replacement therapy options that don’t involve high levels of estrogen.
If your doctor prescribes medications, especially heart medications, take them as prescribed. Do not start or stop taking medications without consulting your doctor. Taper off medications as advised by your physician to avoid any risks for complications.
Dress Appropriately.
If you are at risk for a blood clot, lower your risk by donning loose-fitting clothes, socks, or stockings. Avoid wearing any clothes that restrict blood flow, such as Spanx or other figure-shaping undergarments. Your doctor recommend special socks, called compression stockings. These prevent blood from pooling in your lower legs. If you are advised to wear these, you should follow your doctor’s instructions.