Show When a blood clot forms in one of your deep veins, it’s called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This can cause pain and swelling. If the clot breaks free, it can move through your bloodstream to other parts of your body. In rare cases, it can even cut off blood flow to your lungs. DVT is tough to spot. That’s why it’s a good idea to know what puts you at risk so you can avoid getting it. Here are some things that raise your chances of DVT: You’ve had a blood clot. About 30% of people who’ve had DVT will have it again. You have a family history of it. If a parent or sibling had DVT, you’re more at risk. If both of your parents have been diagnosed, your chances may be even higher. You’re over age 40. The odds that you’ll get DVT go up with your age. You’re on bed rest. The deep veins in the center of your legs depend on your muscles to force blood back to your lungs and heart. If your muscles don’t move for a while, blood starts to pool in your lower legs. This makes it more likely for a clot to form. You sit for long periods. A common example is when you sit on a plane for hours at a time. But it can happen in your everyday life as well. Think of when you sit at your desk to work for long uninterrupted stretches or to play video games or surf the internet. You’re a man between 45 and 60. Men have a slightly higher risk of DVT between these ages. Otherwise, it seems that gender has little effect on DVT. (Pregnancy can raise risk in women.) You have certain genes. You can inherit certain genes, like factor V Leiden, that makes your blood clot more easily. By themselves, most of these are not enough to raise your risk for DVT. But combined with other risk factors, they can have an effect. You’re pregnant or just gave birth. When you’re expecting a baby, your levels of the female hormone estrogen rise. This causes your blood to clot more easily. If you take birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, your chances of DVT also go up. That’s because many of these drugs contain estrogen. Your blood doesn’t clot the way it should. Some people are born with a blood clotting disorder. This can cause your blood to be thicker than normal when it moves through your body. You need to lose weight. The higher your body mass index (BMI), the greater your risk for DVT. BMI measures how much fat you have compared to your height and weight. Doctors aren’t sure why, but extra fat around your belly can stop blood from moving easily through the deep veins. Obesity also changes the chemical makeup of blood, leads to inflammation, and puts you at risk for diabetes. All of these make your blood more prone to clotting. You have other health issues. People with heart disease, lung disease, and inflammatory bowel disease are more likely to get DVT. So are people who have cancer or are going through cancer treatment. Your vein has been injured. If you badly hurt a muscle or fractured a bone, the inner lining of a nearby vein could have been damaged. This makes a clot more likely. Major surgery to your stomach, pelvis, hip, or leg also makes you more prone to DVT. You can’t change many of the things that could lead to DVT. But try these tips to keep your blood moving through your body the way it should: Don’t sit for too long. Get up and stretch or walk around at least every 2 hours. If you’re working or video gaming, set a timer so you don’t forget. It can also help to move your legs while you’re seated. Raise and lower your heels while keeping your toes on the floor, or lift your toes while keeping your heels on the ground. Get moving as soon as you can after surgery. This will lower your chances of a blood clot forming. Even doing simple leg lifts in bed will help keep blood flowing through your veins. Talk to your doctor. If you think you’re at risk for DVT, your doctor might advise you to take blood thinners. These are drugs that help prevent clots. They may also suggest that you wear compression stockings. These stockings fit tightly around your ankle but become looser as they go up your leg. They make it harder for blood to pool in your legs. Plan your travel. If you know you’ll be sitting on a train, plane, or in a vehicle for a while, stand up often and stretch your legs. Make sure to wear loose clothing. Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol. If your body doesn’t have enough fluid, your blood vessels narrow and clots are more likely to form. Stay active. Regular exercise lowers your chances of getting a blood clot. Even walking can help. Take care of your health. That may mean losing weight or giving up smoking. If you have heart disease, diabetes, or another chronic illness, follow your doctor’s orders to manage these health issues. SOURCES: American Venous Forum: “Acute DVT, Chapter 2: Risk Factors for Venous Thrombosis.” American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons/OrthoInfo: “Deep Vein Thrombosis.” Society of Interventional Radiology: “Deep Vein Thrombosis Overview.” CDC: “Deep Vein Thromboembolism (Blood Clots).” Cleveland Clinic: “Blood Clotting Disorders You Can Inherit,” “Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Prevention.” University of Connecticut Korey Stringer Institute: “Deep Vein Thrombosis.” National Blood Clot Alliance/Stop The Clot: “Women’s Health,” “Know the Symptoms of DVT and PE.” National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: “How Can Deep Vein Thrombosis Be Prevented?” Mayo Clinic: “Deep Vein Thrombosis.” American Heart Association: “Understand Your Risk for Excessive Blood Clotting.” Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis: “Obesity and Venous Thrombosis: A Review.” CDC: "Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] / Pulmonary Embolism [PE] -- Blood Clot Forming in a Vein, Facts." Sam Schulman, MD, director, Clinical Thromboembolism Program, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario. Natalie Evans, MD, vascular medicine specialist, Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH. Marc Passman, MD, director, Vein Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham. © 2020 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. View privacy policy and trust info
A blood clotting disorder is a condition that makes your body more likely than normal to make blood clots. You can inherit or acquire one of these conditions. Even if you have a blood clotting disorder, you may not get a bad blood clot like one that causes a stroke. Medicines can keep your blood from clotting too much.
Dr. John Bartholomew discusses Factor V Leiden, a blood clotting disorder. A blood clotting disorder makes your blood form clots too easily. This is also called a hypercoagulable state or thrombophilia. When you get hurt, your body stops the bleeding by forming a blood clot. Clotting factors (proteins) your liver makes stick to platelets in your blood to form a blood clot (coagulate). Normal coagulation is important for stopping a cut from bleeding and starting the healing process. However, too much clotting can cause problems. Is a blood clotting disorder dangerous?Yes, blood clotting disorders can be dangerous, especially when you don’t get treatment. People with coagulation disorders have an increased risk of getting a blood clot in their:
Another name for a clot inside a blood vessel is a thrombus or an embolus. Blood clots in your veins can travel through your bloodstream and cause: Blood clots in your arteries can increase your risk for: Can a blood clotting disorder cause miscarriage?Yes, it’s possible to have a miscarriage if you have a blood clot disorder like antiphospholipid syndrome. This disorder increases your blood clot risk, especially if you’ve had blood clots before. Higher blood volume and pressure during pregnancy play a role in making you five times more likely to develop a blood clot, even if you don’t have a blood clotting disorder. What are the most common blood clotting disorders?Factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutation (G20210A) are the most commonly identified genetic defects that increase your risk for blood clotting. About 3% to 8% of people with ancestors from Europe have a copy of the factor V Leiden mutation. Only 1 in 5,000 people has two copies of the mutation. About 1 in 50 white people in America and Europe have the prothrombin mutation. Both of these mutations are less common in other populations.
Blood clotting disorder symptoms can vary depending on where in your body you have a blood clot. Symptoms may include:
What causes a blood clotting disorder?Hypercoagulable states are usually genetic (inherited from parents) or acquired conditions. The genetic form of this disorder means you’re born with the tendency to form blood clots. Acquired conditions are usually a result of surgery, trauma, medications or a medical condition that increases the risk of forming clots. Inherited hypercoagulable conditions include:
Acquired blood clotting disorders include:Causes of acquired blood clotting disorders include:
Certain conditions increase your risk of developing blood clots. However, that doesn’t mean you have a genetic hypercoagulable state. That’s why your healthcare provider will do a careful evaluation of your personal and family medical history. You may be a candidate for screening for coagulation disorders if you have:
What tests will be done to diagnose a blood clotting disorder?Blood tests can help your healthcare provider evaluate your condition. Blood clot disorder tests include:
Some of the tests help detect conditions that can be associated with hypercoagulable states. Tests used to help diagnose inherited coagulation disorders include:
Other tests that help diagnose acquired coagulation disorders include tests for:
Testing can help:
A specialized coagulation laboratory should do the tests. A pathologist or clinician with expertise in coagulation, vascular medicine or hematology should interpret them. Ideally, the tests should be done when you aren’t having an acute clotting event.
In most cases, you only need blood clotting disorder treatment when a blood clot develops in a vein or artery. Anticoagulants decrease your blood’s ability to clot and prevent additional clots from forming. Anticoagulant medications include:
Your healthcare provider will talk to you about the benefits and risks of these medications. This information, along with your diagnosis, will help determine the type of anticoagulant medication you will take, how long you will need to take it, and the type of follow-up monitoring you need. As with any medication, it’s important to know how and when to take your anticoagulant according to your provider’s guidelines and to have frequent blood tests. You shouldn’t take warfarin if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If you are, ask your provider about switching to a different type of anticoagulant medication, especially during the first trimester and before delivery. What can’t I eat with a blood clotting disorder?Ask your healthcare provider about specific dietary guidelines you'll need to follow while taking warfarin. Certain foods, such as foods high in vitamin K, can change the way the medication works. These include:
Side effects of anticoagulants may include:
How do I take care of myself?If you're taking warfarin:
If you’re born with an inherited form of blood clotting disorder, you can’t prevent it. Still, that doesn’t mean you’re going to get a blood clot. Possible ways to prevent an acquired blood clotting disorder include:
You can manage blood clot disorders by taking medicine and going to follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider. If you’re planning to have surgery or become pregnant, talk with your provider about how to stay safe during these times. How long do blood clotting disorders last?If you inherited your blood clotting disorder from your parents, you’ll have it for the rest of your life. Although that doesn’t mean you’ll get a blood clot, there may be times in your life when an additional risk factor increases the risk you already have. Many acquired coagulation disorders go away when the situation that caused them goes away. For example, when you’re up and moving again after a long plane ride, your risk of clots goes back down.
If you’re taking warfarin, you may bleed or bruise more easily when you’re injured. Call your provider if you experience heavy or unusual bleeding or bruising. Contact your provider if you think you have deep vein thrombosis. When should I go to the ER?Call 911 if you think you’re having a pulmonary embolism because you have chest pain and difficulty breathing. Heart attack and stroke are other medical conditions that need emergency treatment. What questions should I ask my doctor?
A note from Cleveland Clinic If you have a blood clotting disorder, be sure to stay in touch with your healthcare provider. Take any medicine they prescribe for you and keep going to your follow-up appointments. Let them know if you’re planning to become pregnant or have surgery. And ask first before taking any medicine you buy without a prescription. Your provider is on your side and wants to help you, so don’t be afraid to ask questions about your condition.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/01/2022. References
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy |