What are blood clots?
When are they dangerous?
How common is it?
Where do they usually develop?
Common symptoms of a DVT
Blood clots can cause strokes
How to treat a blood clot
Move every two to three hours
Wear loose-fitting pants, socks, or stockings
Get on the floor
Eat less salt
Avoid too much alcohol
Limit animal fats
Avoid unhealthy trans fats
Don’t self-diagnose

What are blood clots?

A blood clot is a clump of blood that has changed from a liquid to a gel-like or semi-solid state. It actually serves a necessary process that prevents us from losing too much blood in certain instances, such as when we're injured or cut.

When are they dangerous?

Blood clots form in veins when certain elements (i.e. platelets) in the blood thicken and stick to each other. The danger comes when this semi-solid mass doesn't dissolve on its own.

How common is it?

About 100,000 people usually develop blood clots every month in the EU, according to an article published in medical journal BMJ in April 2021. According to the CDC, an estimated 900,000 Americans are affected each year, resulting in nearly 100,000 annual deaths.

Where do they usually develop?

A blood clot in the deep vein (also known as a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) typically occurs in the lower leg, thigh, pelvis, or arm.

Common symptoms of a DVT

A DVT can occur without any symptoms, but the most common signs and symptoms include a swelling of the affected limb, random pain or tenderness, and skin that is warm to the touch, red, or discolored. You should contact a doctor immediately, as this blood clot can lead to serious illness or disability.

Blood clots can cause strokes

Not many people know that a stroke is often caused by a blood clot in the brain. The poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death, resulting in sudden and severe headaches and difficulty speaking or seeing.

How to treat a blood clot

If you have been diagnosed with a blood clot, your doctor may give you medicine to treat it. This type of medicine is called a blood thinner (also anticoagulant). It can be injected or ingested orally.

Move every two to three hours

Get up and walk around every two to three hours if you can. If not, you can do seated leg stretches like keeping your heels down and raising your toes, or vice versa, or tightening and releasing your leg muscles.

Wear loose-fitting pants, socks, or stockings

Especially if you or your family have a history of blood clots, you'll want to avoid wearing tight clothing that constricts the waist or legs when you know you’ll be sitting for a while.

Get on the floor

You can also lie on the floor and slide your butt all the way to the wall, and raise your legs to lie against the wall, keeping them straight. This is a practice often used in yoga to improve blood flow.

Eat less salt

High salt consumption can lead to reduced function of the endothelium, which is the inner lining of blood vessels. Endothelial cells are critical in processes including blood clotting and immune function.

Avoid too much alcohol

On the flip side, too much alcohol can make you dehydrated and can increase your risk of developing blood clots.

Limit animal fats

If it's bad for your cardiovascular health, it's also increasing your chance of blood clots. Stay away from saturated fats in full-fat dairy and fatty meats, and from all types of sugar since they cause inflammation.

Avoid unhealthy trans fats

Foods that in excess cause plaque buildup in blood vessels also thereby increase the risk of developing blood clots. Stay away from unhealthy trans fats, and there are a ton of other health benefits you’ll get in return!