Checklist for Blood Clot Risk Factors

Checklist for Blood Clot Risk Factors

Tips to Prevent Blood Clots Move around as soon as possible after having been confined to bed, such as after surgery, illness, or injury. Talk to your doctor about your risk for DVT. If you are, your doctor may recommend the following for you: - Graduated compression stockings (sometimes called “medical compression stockings”); and - Medication (anticoagulants) to prevent DVT.

When sitting for long periods of time, such as when traveling for more than 4 hours      - Get up and walk around every 2-3 hours;      - Exercise your legs while seated by           • Raising and lowering your heels while keeping your toes on the floor,           • Raising and lowering your toes while keeping your heels on the floor, and           • Tightening and releasing your leg muscles; and      - Wear loose-fitting clothes. You can reduce your risk of a blood clot by maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding an inactive (sedentary) lifestyle, and following your doctor’s recommendations related to the factors that increase your individual risk of a blood clot.