SELF-CARE CORNER
Healthy blood is designed to clot. When blood clots, it prevents heavy bleeding. But, if a clot happens inside a vein, it can be dangerous. This is called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Sometimes, the blood clot may move through the body and get stuck in the lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism (PE).
Up to 100,000 Americans die from a DVT or PE every year. These clots kill more people than breast cancer, car collisions, and HIV/AIDS combined.
Signs of a clot
Signs of a DVT or PE include:
* Swelling, tenderness, redness or warmth in one area of the body
* Chest heaviness or pain
* Sweating
* Feeling out of breath
* Weakness or fainting
* Fast heart beat
* Feeling of impending doom
Know your risk
Certain things make you more likely to get a blood clot. They include:
* Recent surgery or an injury
* Being in bed for long periods
* Not moving a certain body part, such as a broken leg
* Sitting for a long time, including during travel
* Higher levels of estrogen from birth control pills, pregnancy or hormone replacement therapy
* Medical conditions, such as cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, heart disease, blood clotting disorders or lung disease
* Obesity
* Smoking
* History of atrial fibrillation (A-fib)
Reduce your risk
Talk about your risk with your doctor. You can lower your risk of getting a blood clot by:
* Getting up from sitting at least every two hours
* Moving around after surgery or being in bed for a long time
* Moving legs and feet while on plane trips
* Wearing loose-fitting clothes while sitting for a long time
* Exercising regularly
* Wearing compression stockings if recommended by your doctor
What to do?
If you think you or a loved one might have a blood clot, see a doctor right away. A blood clot can be treated if it’s caught early. Sometimes, doctors use medicines that dissolve the clot. Other times, doctors will perform surgery to remove the clot.
Sources: American Society of Hematology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine