How to Prevent Blood Clots

Blood clots, whether in the arteries or in the lungs, fall into the category of “venous thrombosis” or VTE. Blood clots cause different symptoms and effects, depending on where in the body it occurs. However, all blood clots carry the potential to cause death if left untreated, including heart disease and stroke. Therefore, you need to arm yourself with knowledge on how to prevent blood clots from forming in the first place.

Table of Contents

Understand risk factors

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Increase vigilance as you get older. The risk of having a blood clot for the first time is 100/100000. However, this risk increases exponentially as we get older: by age 80, the incidence of VTE is 500/100000. ^{[1] X Richard White Research Source , The Epidemipogy of Venous Thrombosis. Circulation 2003 107 1 (4) 1-8} So the older you get, the more often you need to see your doctor to monitor your overall health.

Surgery or a hip or leg fracture also increases the risk of blood clots forming.

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Consider activity level. ^{[2] X Sources of Study} People with a sedentary or inactive lifestyle are at increased risk of pulmonary embolism, or blood clots in the lungs. People who sit for more than 6 hours a day at rest have twice the risk of pulmonary embolism as those who sit for less than 2 hours. Sitting, lying down, or standing for long periods of time can cause blood to pool, leading to blood clots. That is why venous thrombosis often occurs in inpatients, especially after surgery, and in long-distance travelers.

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Calculate body mass index (BMI). People in the obese group have a higher risk of developing venous thrombosis than people of a healthy weight. ^{[3] X Credible Source PubMed Central Go to Source} Although the correlation is not well established, experts believe it is at least partly due to estrogen produced by fat cells. Estrogen is an independent risk factor for blood clots. ^{[4] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source} Fat cells also produce the protein “cytokine,” which plays an important role in the formation of venous thrombosis. ^{[5] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} Not always but compared to a healthy weight group, obesity can lead to a sedentary lifestyle.

To calculate BMI, you can use an online calculator. Accordingly, you only need to enter your age, height, weight and gender to know the results.
Obese people will have an index greater than or equal to 30. The overweight group has an index of 25-29.9, the normal group is 18.5-24.9. A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight.

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Pay attention to hormone levels. ^{[6] X Research Sources} Hormonal changes, especially estrogen, may increase the risk of venous thrombosis. This condition is commonly seen in premenopausal women due to the addition of estrogen in hormone replacement therapy. Women taking hormonal birth control pills and pregnant women are also at increased risk.

Before starting any hormone therapy, you should also talk to your doctor about your risk factors and options.

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Recognize hypercoagulability. ^{[7] X Trusted Source FamilyDoctor.org Going to the Source} Coagulation is a normal blood process. Blood that doesn’t clot can cause you to bleed to death if you accidentally cut someone. On the other hand, hypercoagulability is when too much blood clots, even while still in the body. Hypercoagulability can be caused by sitting or lying down for too long, cancer, dehydration, smoking, and hormone therapy. ^{[8] X Trusted Source FamilyDoctor.org Go to Source} You are at risk of developing blood clots if:

Family history of abnormal blood clotting.
I myself had a blood clot when I was young.
Having a blood clot during pregnancy.
Multiple miscarriages with no identifiable cause.
Have a genetic disorder, such as Factor V Leiden Disorder or Lupus Anticoagulant.

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Be aware of other health problems that can increase your risk of blood clots. Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and plaque buildup in the arteries both lead to blood clots. ^{[9] X Research Source}

If you have atrial fibrillation, blood doesn’t circulate properly, accumulates, and clots. ^{[10] X Research Source}
A person with atrial fibrillation has an irregular heartbeat and no other symptoms; Symptoms are usually detected during routine physical examination. It can be treated with blood thinners or other medications, lifestyle changes, and a pacemaker or surgery in some cases. ^{[11] X Research Source}
Chpesterp plaque can build up in the arteries (sometimes as part of atherosclerosis), and when the plaque breaks off, they can initiate blood clotting. ^{[12] X Research Source} Most heart attacks and strokes are caused by an artery in the heart or brain bursting. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Prevent blood clots

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Exercise regularly. Research shows that exercising 150 minutes a week of moderate or vigorous intensity reduces the risk of many health problems. ^{[14] X Research Source} On average, you should do 20-30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (walking, cycling, aerobics,…) every day. Choose activities that you enjoy to ensure commitment. Exercise stimulates circulation, improves overall health and prevents venous thrombosis.

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Occasionally raise your legs. You can elevate your legs at rest or during sleep. Raise the leg from calf to foot, do not raise the knee; Therefore, you should not put a pillow under the knee to raise the knee. Instead, raise your legs about 15 cm above your heart. Do not cross your legs.

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Break the habit of sitting for a long time. Exercise is an important step, but it won’t work if you sit for too long before exercising. If you sit or lie down for long periods of time, for example when traveling, working at a computer, lying in bed, you need to take a break from exercise. Every 2 hours, get up and do light activity. For example, you can go for a walk or warm up by rotating your heels and toes.

Any activity that causes you to sit with your knees bent increases your risk of blood clots. ^{[15] X Research Sources Harvey Sugarman MD, Bo G Eklof MD, William Toft MD. Air Travel-Related deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embpism, JAMA, Dec 19 2012 vp 308 No 23 2531}

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Add enough water. Severe dehydration will “thicken” the blood and stimulate the formation of blood clots. ^{[16] X Research Source Stephen Gabon MD, MPH. Prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embpism, Public Health Reports. 2008 July-Aug 123 (4) 420-421.} Everyone, especially the elderly and those at high risk, should drink plenty of water. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men drink 13 cups of water (3 liters) and women 9 cups (2.2 liters) of water a day. ^{[17] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Don’t let yourself get thirsty. Thirst is the first and most obvious sign of dehydration.
Another sign of dehydration is a dry mouth or severe dry skin.
Drinking water right away can help rehydrate the body. If you have diarrhea, vomiting, or heavy sweating, you may need to drink an electrolyte drink like Gatorade to re-hydrogenate.

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Get regular check-ups during pregnancy. High estrogen levels increase the risk of venous thrombosis. Especially during pregnancy, you can’t control the amount of estrogen your body produces. The only way is to avoid other risk factors (such as smoking or sitting too long) and to see your doctor regularly for health monitoring.

If a vein thrombosis develops in a limb, your doctor may prescribe medications that are safe during pregnancy to prevent the clot from traveling to the lungs or brain and causing death.
Taking blood thinners during pregnancy can be risky because they interfere with the placenta’s binding.
However, in cases of excessive venous thrombosis, the drug Lovenox can help. After giving birth, the mother can safely switch to Coumadin while breastfeeding. ^{[18] X Research Sources Lee Dresang MD, Pat Fontaine MD, Larry Leeman MD et al American Family Physician June 15 2008, issue 77 (12) 1709-1716}
In the US and Western Europe, venous thrombosis is the leading cause of death in pregnant women. ^{[19] X Research Source}

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Talk to your doctor about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) alternatives. HRT drugs used to control menopausal symptoms increase the risk of blood clots. Other non-hormonal replacement therapies, such as Estroven soy isoflavones, can help reduce hot flashes but don’t increase your risk of blood clots. Alternatively, you can get isoflavones from food sources such as soy, soy milk, or tofu. Note that there are currently no guidelines for additional doses. ^{[20] X Research Source}

Or you can choose to live with menopausal symptoms and not have treatment. Although uncomfortable, this method is not harmful to health.

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Take hormonal birth control pills only when recommended by your doctor. ^{[21] X Research Sources} The combination of estrogen and progestin in most oral contraceptives can increase the risk of blood clots 3-4 times. However, for women who are healthy and do not carry other risk factors, the risk of using oral contraceptives is very low, only 1 in 3,000 cases of venous thrombosis.

Women with heavy menstrual bleeding or abnormal endometrium should choose non-hormonal therapy if possible. Non-estrogen (progesterone-only) birth control pills or other non-hormonal options such as an IUD may be considered.
Even with your health or risk of blood clots, you can still take hormonal birth control if you take anticoagulants. Your doctor may prescribe birth control pills that contain very little estrogen (or no estrogen) to reduce the risk of blood clots.

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Maintain a healthy weight. Since excess fat cells in obesity are associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, you need to lose weight if you are obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30). The healthiest way to lose weight is to combine exercise and healthy eating. Although it is important to limit your calorie consumption, you should not eat less than 1200 calories per day. ^{[22] X Research Source} If you exercise, you will need more calories. It is best to consult a doctor for specific cases.

Wear a heart rate monitor when exercising to monitor your heart rate.
To calculate your target heart rate, you first need to calculate your maximum heart rate: 220-years-old. ^{[23] X Trusted Source American Heart Association Go to Source}
Multiply the result by 0.6 to get the desired heart rate result. After that, try to maintain this heart rate for at least 20 minutes during exercise, at least 4 times per week.
For example, for a 50-year-old middle-aged woman, the required heart rate is (220-50) x 0.6 = 102.

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Wear pressure socks. Compression stockings are also known as anti-thrombotic socks. People who have to sit or stand for too long, such as waiters, nurses, and doctors, often wear compression stockings to improve circulation. Stockings are also worn if you have a blood clot to reduce pain and swelling in your leg. ^{[24] X Research Source} In addition, compression stockings are sometimes used for inpatients who spend a lot of time in hospital beds.

You can buy pressure socks at most drugstores. Socks need to be just knee high to improve circulation.

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Talk to your doctor about blood thinners. If your doctor thinks you’re at high risk for venous thromboembolism, your doctor may prescribe preventive medication. Depending on your specific condition, your doctor may recommend prescription (Coumadin or Lovenox) or over-the-counter medications like Aspirin.

Coumadin is a prescription medication that is usually taken as a single dose of 5mg per day. ^{[25] X Research Sources} However, the drug may react differently with vitamin K, which is essential for normal blood clotting, depending on the individual case. Because of that, the dose will be different.
Lovenox is a prescription injection you can give at home. ^{[26] X Research Source} You will receive a prefilled syringe for injection twice daily. The dose of injection depends on weight.
Aspirin is an over-the-counter medication appropriate for people at low risk. ^{[27] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to the source} The drug has been shown to help prevent thrombotic diseases, from blood clots to stroke and heart attack.

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Ask your doctor about special medications if you have cancer. One in five patients with malignant cancer will develop venous thrombosis. ^{[28] X Research Sources} There are many different causes, including cancer-related inflammation, lack of exercise, or medication side effects. ^{[29] X Study Source} Cancer patients with venous thrombosis will be given Lovenox or Coumadin and possibly an inferior vena cava filter (IVC). The IVC acts as a filter in cases where a deep vein thrombosis breaks out from a leg vein. The filter prevents blood clots from traveling to the lungs or heart, reducing the risk of death. ^{[30] X Research Source}

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Apply natural therapy. Natural therapies that prevent blood clots are often passed on by word of mouth and are not scientifically proven. It is thought that phytonutrients can prevent venous thrombosis in cancer patients. ^{[31] X Research Source} However, there is currently no known mechanism by which a natural diet suppresses inflammation and inhibits cytokine production. Foods that are recommended in the blood clot prevention diet include:

Fruits: Apricots, oranges, blackberries, tomatoes, pineapples, plums, blueberries.
Spices: Curry, Cayenne, Paprika, Thyme, Turmeric, Ginger, Licorice, Ginkgo.
Vitamins: vitamin E (almonds, walnuts, lentils, oats and wheat) and omega 3 fatty acids (fatty fish like salmon).
Plant sources: Sunflower seeds, rapeseed oil, safflower oil.
Functional foods: Garlic, Ginkgo, Vitamin C, Nattokinase supplements.
Wine and honey.

Warning

Swollen, tender, red or slightly blue skin on one side of the leg, and a warm feeling could be signs of deep vein thrombosis. In that case, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Shortness of breath, severe chest pain, dizziness or unconsciousness, a fast heartbeat, or unexplained coughing up of bloody sputum could be signs of a pulmonary embolism and you should call 911 immediately. This condition can be caused by a blood clot traveling to the lungs and requires urgent medical attention.

Steps

Understand risk factors

Prevent blood clots

Warning

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