Knowing how to prevent blood clots can ultimately save your life. Being aware of the signs and taking action quickly can make all the difference in your health.
Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of what the signs are and what to look out for to keep themselves safe. In this article, we’ll let you in on some important ways to prevent blood clots so you can take an active role in your wellbeing.
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Why Learn How To Prevent Blood Clots?
Blood clots can cause you to have a stroke or a heart attack and sometimes these events are fatal. They can develop slowly over time or come on more quickly. This is why it’s important to try and catch them as early as possible so treatment can begin.
Risk Factors
While anyone can be affected by a blood clot, some things will put you at higher risk for one. If you have any of these risk factors, it’s a good idea to keep a better lookout for the signs.
These are:
- Pregnancy
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Certain cancers and their treatments
- Family history
- Recent surgery
Learn to Recognize the Signs
Deep vein thrombosis (DVP) is the riskiest type of blood clot. Parts of these clots can break off and travel to the lungs or brain causing serious damage. Fortunately, there are signs of DVP you can watch for.
These include:
- Swelling of an arm, lower leg, pelvis, or thigh
- Skin in the affected area feeling warm
- Skin in the affected area looking red or discolored
- Pain in the affected area that is not the result of an injury
Be Proactive
If you know you’re at a higher risk for a blood clot, you can be proactive in preventing blood clots. Some exercises will help to keep the blood flowing through your veins more easily.
You can wear compression stockings to improve your circulation. Decreasing your salt intake is a good idea and remembering to get up and move around every couple of hours is important if you need to sit for a long time.
Treatments
If you do end up with a blood clot, there are still ways to treat them before they become life-threatening. These treatments are designed to prevent blood clots from growing or breaking loose.
Blood thinners are commonly used if the DVT isn’t too serious yet. For more serious clots, thrombolytics can be administered with an IV. While some treatments can be expensive, buying your prescription online makes saving money on important medication is easier than you might think.
Take Your Health Into Your Own Hands
Learning how to prevent blood clots may seem intimidating but it’s actually pretty simple. If you take preventative measures on a regular basis and watch out for the telltale signs of blood clots, you’ll be in good shape to avoid them and their nasty consequences.
Are you looking for more helpful information to stay in shape? Check out more informative articles here on our blog to keep you in top form.
