What should I avoid doing if I have a blood clot?

Don't: Sit Too Long. Try not to stay seated for more than 2 hours at a time -- get up and walk around regularly. If you had a DVT in one of your legs, don't cross your legs when you sit down. That position can affect your circulation.

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What should you not do when you have a blood clot?

DON'T stand or sit in one spot for a long time. DON'T wear clothing that restricts blood flow in your legs. DON'T smoke. DON'T participate in contact sports when taking blood thinners because you're at risk of bleeding from trauma.

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What can worsen blood clots?

Causes
  • Being on long-term bed rest.
  • Sitting for long periods, such as in a plane or car.
  • During and after pregnancy.
  • Taking birth control pills or estrogen hormones (especially in women who smoke)
  • Long-term use of an intravenous catheter.
  • After surgery.

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Should you rest when you have a blood clot?

For years, if you had a DVT, your doctor would order bed rest. This was thought to lower the risk of a clot traveling through your bloodstream to your lungs. But recent research suggests that bed rest doesn't help people with DVT and that it may be fine for you to get up and move around.

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Can you do normal activities with a blood clot?

For most people, walking or taking care of some housework are fine right after you find out you have DVT. It's also OK right after a pulmonary embolism. Your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner -- they may call it an anticoagulant -- and compression stockings. Those help blood flow in your legs.

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Blood Clots: How to Prevent Them from Happening to You

30 related questions found

Does walking help blood clots?

Clotting is often caused by long periods of inactivity, so practicing a regular exercise routine can help you reduce your risk of clots and other conditions related to blood clots, such as diabetes and obesity.

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How much walking should you do with a blood clot?

Your goal is to walk for 30 to 45 minutes, 5 to 7 days per week. A resource for patients developed by the North American Thrombosis Forum. were prescribed medication to treat your DVT, such as an anticoagulant, please be sure to take your medication as directed. There are many reasons why someone might develop a DVT.

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Does sitting make a blood clot worse?

Women who are pregnant or taking birth control, elderly people, and people who smoke are at especially high risk, says Dr. Tonnessen. “Not exercising or moving around on occasion can lead to a more extensive blood clot.”

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How do you know if a blood clot is getting worse?

As the blood clot worsens, the skin around it often becomes red or discolored and feels warm to the touch.
...
Warning signs of DVT
  1. Swelling.
  2. Tightness in the leg.
  3. Persistent, throbbing, cramp-like feeling in the leg.
  4. Pain or tenderness when standing or walking.

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How do you calm a blood clot?

Your doctor might recommend: Medication: Anticoagulants, also called blood thinners, help prevent blood clots from forming. For life-threatening blood clots, drugs called thrombolytics can dissolve clots that are already formed.

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How do you know if a blood clot is moving?

Warm skin. The skin around painful areas or in the arm or leg with the DVT may feel warmer than other skin. Trouble breathing. If this happens, it could mean that the clot has moved from your arm or leg to your lungs.

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What helps blood clot quickly?

Ice. Applying ice to a wound will constrict the blood vessels, allowing a clot to form more quickly and stop the bleeding. The best way to do this is to wrap ice in a clean, dry cloth and place it on the wound.

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How long does it take for blood clots to go away?

It takes about 3 to 6 months for a blood clot to go away. During this time, there are things you can do to relieve symptoms. Elevate your leg to reduce swelling. Talk to your doctor about using compression stockings.

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How do you sleep when you have a blood clot?

Raise your feet, especially when sleeping

Keeping your feet elevated in the evenings while relaxing and while sleeping can help promote healthy circulation which may decrease the risk of deep vein thrombosis – especially if one you suffer from varicose vein disease.

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What foods heal blood clots?

Food Sources
  • Green leafy vegetables including collard and turnip greens, kale, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuces.
  • Soybean and canola oil.
  • Salad dressings made with soybean or canola oil.
  • Fortified meal replacement shakes.

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What helps with blood clots at home?

Home tips for managing symptoms
  • Wear graduated compression stockings. These specially fitted stockings are tight at the feet and become gradually looser up on the leg, creating gentle pressure that keeps blood from pooling and clotting.
  • Elevate the affected leg. Make sure your foot is higher than your hip.
  • Take walks.

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Can a blood clot just go away?

Typically, your body will naturally dissolve the blood clot after the injury has healed. Sometimes, however, clots form on the inside of vessels without an obvious injury or do not dissolve naturally. These situations can be dangerous and require accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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Can a blood clot go away in a few days?

A DVT or pulmonary embolism can take weeks or months to totally dissolve. Even a surface clot, which is a very minor issue, can take weeks to go away. If you have a DVT or pulmonary embolism, you typically get more and more relief as the clot gets smaller.

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Can blood clots go away quickly?

Blood clots do go away on their own, as the body naturally breaks down and absorbs the clot over weeks to months. Depending on the location of the blood clot, it can be dangerous and you may need treatment.

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How do you sit with a blood clot?

Do not sit or lie down in the same position for long periods.
  1. Do not sit so that you put steady pressure on the back of your knee.
  2. Prop up your legs on a stool or chair if your legs swell when you sit.

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Can you drive with a blood clot in your leg?

Can I drive after a DVT or PE? As long as you didn't suffer a loss of consciousness, and you can move your leg freely, then there are no restrictions on driving.

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Does moving your feet while sitting help prevent blood clots?

While sitting, flex your calves and ankles at frequent intervals. If you're traveling long distance by car, it's a good idea to stop every 60 to 90 minutes and take a short walk. This will stimulate your leg muscles and get your blood flowing, which in turn lowers the risk of blood pooling and clotting.

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How long should you rest with a DVT?

The recommended duration is 6 weeks for a clot below the knee and 3 months if your clot is in the veins at the level of the knee or higher. For clots located at the knee or above, long term treatment beyond 3 months is sometimes advised to reduce the chance of future DVT or PE.

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How often should you move to avoid blood clots?

Break up long periods of sitting

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that you stand, stretch (feet, ankles, and legs), and move around every 2 to 3 hours if possible to prevent a clot from forming.

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Do blood thinners break up clots?

Blood-thinning medications are commonly used to prevent blood clots from forming or getting bigger. Thrombolytic medications can break up existing clots.

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