What Are Blood Clots?

Blood clots are common, potentially life-threatening, but treatable and generally preventable disorders that include two related conditions:

1. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – abnormal clotting of the blood in a deep vein, generally in one or more veins of the leg or pelvis, and
2. Pulmonary Embolism (PE) – when a DVT breaks free from its original site in a vein and then travels through the bloodstream into the lungs

Why should I be concerned about blood clots?

• Up to one million Americans suffer from blood clots every year, often resulting in hospitalization
• More than 100,000 Americans die from PE every year, which is more than the combined deaths from breast cancer, AIDS and traffic accidents Blood clots can kill quickly, or they may result in long-term pain, swelling of the affected leg and difficulty walking

DVT and PE are considered medical emergencies that require immediate care if any of the symptoms below are present:

Symptoms of possible DVT:

• Recent swelling of one leg
• Unexplained pain or tenderness in one leg

• Recent or sudden shortness of breath
• Sharp chest pain, especially when breathing in
• Coughing up blood
• Sudden collapse

• Recent major surgery
• Cancer and its treatment
• Major trauma or injuries to the leg
• Previous DVT or PE
• Hospitalization with an acute medical illness
• Recent immobility
• Pregnancy
• Use of birth-control pills or use of hormonereplacement therapy
• Family history of DVT and PE
• Obesity

DVT and PE are treated with anticoagulants, which are sometimes called "blood thinners," which decrease the blood's ability to clot. They stop clots from getting bigger, prevent new clots from forming, and prevent clots from breaking off and traveling to the lungs. Compression stockings may be prescribed to decrease the risk of venous valve damage and to reduce long-term pain and swelling.

You can help prevent the formation of blood clots by staying active, not smoking and maintaining a normal body weight. If you are scheduled for surgery or are admitted to the hospital for any reason, remember to discuss treatment and prevention options with your health-care provider. For more information please visit www.vdf.org.

Excerpted from the Venous Disease Coalition's "Focus on Blood Clots" educational card. To get your free copy, please visit www.vdf.org or call 888.VDF.4INFO (888.833.4463). The Venous Disease Coalition is a division of the VDF.