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*Please note: This slide show represents a visual interpretation and is not intended to provide, nor substitute as, medical and/or clinical advice from your doctor.
If you have had a dangerous blood clot (also known as venous thromboembolism, or VTE), you are very likely to have another one after you stop taking blood thinners (or anticoagulants).
About half of the people who have had one dangerous blood clot will have another one within 10 years.
People who have had a blood clotting problem, cancer, or who cannot move much are even more likely to have another blood clot.
If you are taking blood thinners, you should be very careful to avoid hurting yourself. Because blood thinners prevent clotting, even a tiny cut or bruise (which is bleeding under the skin) will bleed a lot more if you are taking blood thinners.
Even if you do not have a cut or bruise, a bump or fall could cause you to bleed internally. When taking blood thinners, your body may need help to stop the bleeding.
Let your doctor know right away if you notice any signs of unusual bleeding, like:
  • Bleeding from your gums or nose;
  • Blood in your urine or stool;
  • Heavier than normal menstrual periods;
  • Vomiting or coughing up blood;
  • Dizziness or weakness; and/or
  • Severe headache or stomach ache.
If you have had a dangerous blood clot, you will need to take blood thinners for at least 3 months.
Some people need to take these medicines longer and some people have to take blood thinners forever.
When you stop taking blood thinners, you may be told to take an aspirin. It is not as powerful as the other blood thinners, but aspirin cuts down the risk of another blood clot by 33%.
You can have another dangerous blood clot even while you are taking blood thinners. About one out-of-every twenty people will have another serious blood clot during the first 3 months they are on blood thinners.
If you have ever had a dangerous blood clot, it is important to get up and move regularly. Moving is important whether you are taking blood thinners or not.
Don’t sit for hours. If you can, get up, move around, and take a walk for at least 30 minutes each day. You can do leg exercises while sitting or in bed. Raise your feet and make ankle circles or flutter your feet. Keep the blood in your legs moving.
Compression stockings may be helpful as well, but are not a substitute for blood thinners or activity.
Travel can increase the risk of a blood clot developing. If you or someone in your family has had a dangerous blood clot, see your doctor before you take a trip that will require more than 6 hours of sitting.
When you take long trips:
  • Try to walk up and down the aisle every hour or so, if you are flying or in a train;
  • Get out and walk around if you can on layovers, or refueling stops;
  • Exercise your calf muscles while sitting in your seat;
  • Drink lots of water and avoid drinking alcohol or taking sleeping aids; and/or
  • Ask your doctor about wearing special fitted compression stockings that keep blood from pooling in your legs.
If you have had a dangerous blood clot, you are likely to have another one. To cut your risk:
  • Take blood thinners or aspirin as your doctor recommends;
  • Avoid sitting for a long time;
  • Walk around, or at least move your legs and feet;
  • Get regular exercise;
  • Eat healthy food;
  • Maintain a healthy weight or lose weight if you need to; and
  • If you smoke, it is very important to quit.
If you develop any of the warning signs of a serious blood clot, call your doctor or call 911 right away. Being proactive with your health could save your life.
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Slide Show - Preventing Another VTE

If you have had a dangerous blood clot (also known as venous thromboembolism, or VTE) you may be at risk for getting another one. This slide show explains the different steps you can take to prevent another blood clot from developing. Patients who have had a dangerous blood clot should be alert to the signs of VTE for the rest of their lives. If you have had a VTE in the past, be sure to talk to your doctor about ways you can prevent VTE and reduce your risk of life-threatening complications.

Animation - Preventing Another VTE

If you have had a dangerous blood clot (also known as venous thromboembolism, or VTE) you may be at risk for getting another one. This animation explains the different steps you can take to prevent another blood clot from developing. Patients who have had a dangerous blood clot should be alert to the signs of VTE for the rest of their lives. If you have had a VTE in the past, be sure to talk to your doctor about ways you can prevent VTE and reduce your risk of life-threatening complications.

Expert Video - What’s the risk of getting another dangerous blood clot?

In this video, pulmonologist Dr Sandra Adams explains what the risks are of getting another dangerous blood clot if you’ve had one already. Once a VTE blood clot is found and treatment has started, most patients will do very well. Still, about half of people who have had one VTE blood clot will have another within 10 years. Patients can get another blood clot even during the first 3 months they are on blood thinners. Another blood clot has the same risks as the first blood clot, including the same symptoms, and on rare occasions can be deadly. Talk to your doctor about your risk of getting another dangerous blood clot, and be aware of the symptoms to watch out for. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any symptoms.

Expert Video - What factors increase my risk of another serious blood clot?

Certain factors can increase your risk of having another serious VTE blood clot. Dr Sandra Adams explains that the most common risk factor for having another serious blood clot is if you have had a previous blood clot. Other risk factors include genetics, diseases such as cancer, smoking, certain medications such as birth control pills, and sitting or lying down most of the time. Even if you can’t move much, it is important to try to move your arms, legs and feet and to do stretching exercises to increase blood flow and help lower your chance of getting another blood clot.

Expert Video - Can compression stockings prevent all blood clots?

Compression stockings may be helpful to prevent or lower your chances of getting a dangerous blood clot, but as Dr Sandra Adams explains, compression stockings are not a substitute for blood thinners or physical activity. Compression stockings may reduce the risk of blood clots in some patients who have had surgery and cannot move much. Some doctors recommend compression stockings for people who take long flights to keep blood from pooling in their legs. Compression stockings can also prevent scarring in the veins from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) blood clots. However keep in mind that compression stockings are not as effective as blood thinners in preventing clots from forming.

Expert Video - What exercises can I adopt to lessen my risk of blood clots?

In this video, pulmonologist Dr Sandra Adams explains that daily exercise and moving about frequently can reduce your risk of developing dangerous blood clots. Try to walk or exercise for 30 minutes every day. If you must sit for a long time, raise your legs off the floor when possible. When traveling, take regular breaks to walk and move your legs even if you stay seated. Stretching your legs and pointing and flexing your toes can help. You can do leg exercises even in bed. Raise your feet and make ankle circles or flutter your feet. Keep the blood in your legs moving.

Expert Video - I have had one episode of VTE, how can I prevent it from happening again?

If you have had one dangerous VTE blood clot you may be at risk for developing a second clot, therefore it is very important to work with your doctor to understand your risk factors and take steps for prevention of another clot. In this video Dr Sandra Adams talks about the different steps you can take to prevent VTE blood clots and protect your health. Regular exercise is a great way to prevent another clot, and if you smoke it’s time to quit. A few risk factors, like cancer and heart failure, will require ongoing treatment to control. Staying on blood thinner medication for the time your doctor recommends is also very important. Once you stop taking a blood thinner, your doctor may recommend taking aspirin to lower the risk of another blood clot.

Expert Video - What is post-thrombotic syndrome?

In this video, Dr Sandra Adams explains that when a clot forms in a blood vessel, it can cause scarring and damage to the valves in the veins that keep blood moving in the right direction. This damage can lead to a condition called post-thrombotic syndrome. Post-thrombotic syndrome can cause swelling, pain, discoloration, and even shallow wounds on the skin, called ulcers. Dr Adams explains that about half of people who have had a blood clot in their leg will have some degree of post-thrombotic syndrome. Medication and compression stockings can reduce the risk of developing the syndrome.

Expert Video - Will I have to worry about VTE blood clots all my life?

Patients who have had a dangerous blood clot should be alert to the signs of VTE for the rest of their lives, explains expert pulmonologist Dr Sandra Adams. If you have any symptoms, call your doctor immediately. Not every patient who has had a blood clot will get another one, but many will. Be sure to talk to your doctor about ways you can prevent having another dangerous blood clot. To reduce your risk of another blood clot, you should:

  • Take blood thinners or aspirin as your doctor recommends
  • Avoid sitting for a long time
  • Walk around, or at least move your legs and feet
  • Get regular exercise
  • Eat healthy food
  • Maintain or reach a healthy weight
  • Quit smoking.