Blood Clots Can Affect Anyone: Know the Risks and Symptoms

(StatePoint) Blood clots, which can partly or completely block the flow of blood through the vein, often form in the deep veins in a leg or arm and can then travel to the lungs and be life threatening. About 100,000 people die annually in the United States due to blood clots, which amounts to one person every six minutes. 

Since blood clots can affect everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or race, understanding the risks, signs and symptoms is important for prevention and safe treatment.

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Major risk factors are hospitalization and surgery, cancer and pregnancy. Other risk factors include birth control methods and hormone replacement therapies that contain estrogen, trauma, immobility, being overweight, family history and smoking.

Signs or symptoms of a blood clot in the leg or arm include swelling, pain or tenderness, skin that is warm to the touch or redness. In a lung, signs or symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest pain that worsens with a deep breath, coughing or coughing up blood, and a fast or irregular heartbeat.

Visit <a href="http://www.stoptheclot.org/spreadtheword/" rel="nofollow">stoptheclot.org/spreadtheword</a> to learn more about blood clots.

Talk to your doctor about your potential blood clot risk factors, especially before any planned surgery or as soon as you recognize any signs or symptoms.

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Blood Clots Can Affect Anyone: Know the Risks and Symptoms