Factors that increase the risk of blood clots forming in the deep veins

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Ngo Dac Thanh Huy - Cardiologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital. The doctor has experience and strength in the field of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, echocardiography, coronary angiography and intervention.

Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a deep vein that interferes with the flow of blood back to the heart. There are many factors that increase the risk of blood clots. High-risk patients need to understand these factors to protect their health and proactively prevent them.

1. Lazy to exercise

Inactivity will cause blood stagnation, increasing the risk of blood clot formation. Regular movement, walking, exercising the muscles in the legs will help increase blood circulation in the veins.
In addition, standing for too long or sitting for too long when traveling by train, plane, sitting at the office... can also be the cause of deep vein thrombosis. Get up and walk about every 30-40 minutes.

2. Height and weight

Obesity can increase the risk of blood clots forming in the deep veins due to decreased blood circulation. Therefore, it is necessary to control weight, maintain body mass index (BMI) at a stable level (about 18.5 - 24.9).
Besides obesity, height is also one of the factors that increase the risk of disease. Men over 1.8m tall and women over 1m7 tall have a higher risk of forming a blood clot in a deep vein than other people. This is because the higher the height, the farther blood must travel to reach the organs in the body, the resistance to gravity and the decrease in blood circulation can increase the risk of blood clots.
Height is the default element, you can't control. But you can control your weight, so you need to pay attention to proper nutrition and diet if you gain weight too quickly.

Béo phì có thể làm tăng nguy cơ hình thành cục máu đông trong tĩnh mạch sâu do giảm tuần hoàn máu

3. Pregnancy

Pregnant women have higher-than-normal estrogen levels. This can increase clotting factors, leading to clot formation.
Moreover, the fetus in the womb also puts a lot of pressure on the pelvis and the veins in the legs, which is easy to form blood clots. This risk even lasts up to 6 weeks after giving birth. To prevent the possibility of deep vein thrombosis, pregnant women need to regularly exercise, walk gently, practice yoga...

4. Age

Although anyone can form a blood clot in a deep vein, the older you get, the greater your risk. It is estimated that 1 in 1000 people will develop a deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. In which, the number of patients in their 20s is 1/10,000, the number of patients at the age of 70 is 5/10,000.
Therefore, elderly people need to have regular health check-ups, have a reasonable diet, regularly exercise, practice nutrition and have a healthy lifestyle.

5. Irregular heartbeat

Arrhythmias can increase the risk of blood clots forming. Attention should be paid to the symptoms of the disease because these symptoms are often non-specific and difficult to detect early.
Atrial fibrillation is one of the heart rhythm disorders that can increase the risk of blood clots forming in the upper chambers of the heart. Abnormalities in the heart rhythm prevent the pumping of blood into the ventricles. Blood circulation is not smooth can form blood clots. Thrombosis in the heart is very dangerous because it can float freely through the blood to travel to the brain, causing a fatal stroke.

6. Using birth control pills

Thuốc tránh thai — Estrogen và progestin trong thuốc tránh thai có thể làm tăng nồng độ của các yếu tố đông máu

The estrogen and progestin in oral contraceptives can increase blood clotting factors. Hormonal contraceptives have the same effect. Therefore, if you have other risk factors for blood clots in the deep veins, you should discuss it with your doctor to choose the safest and most suitable birth control method for you.

7. Cancer

Certain cancers can increase the amount of blood-clotting agents, especially brain, ovarian, colon, stomach, lung, and kidney cancers.
Chemotherapy in cancer treatment also increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Although the cause is not clear, many suspect that it may be due to damage to blood vessels during chemotherapy, which reduces the production of proteins that prevent blood clots from forming. Damaged blood vessels increase the release of procoagulants, causing blood to clot and form thrombus.

8. Smoking

Tobacco contains many chemicals that are harmful to the body. These include substances that can damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis.

Hút thuốc có thể làm tăng nguy cơ mắc huyết khối tĩnh mạch sâu

9. Surgery

Patients undergoing surgery, especially lower extremity surgery, are also at high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis because the body is immobile for a long time. In addition, injuries involving the lower extremities pose a similar risk.

10. Family history factor

Some people with a genetic disorder may be more likely to form blood clots.

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