Deep Vein Thrombosis Q and A
How do I prevent a blood clot?
If you are at risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), also known as blood clots, you should do the following:
- See your physician for regular checkups
- Take any medications prescribed by your doctor
- Move around as soon as possible after you have surgery
- During long trips, exercise your leg muscles
If you’ve had blood clots in the past, you can prevent future blood clots by doing the following:
- Take all medications your doctor prescribes to prevent clots
- Follow up with your doctor and wear compression stockings according to your doctor’s instructions. The compression stockings prevent swelling in your legs from DVT.
When You Travel
If you’re traveling for more than four hours, your risk of developing blood clots increases. To prevent the possibility of DVT, you should:
- Get up and walk around every hour or so
- If you’re in a car, stop to walk around
- To encourage blood flow to the calves, move and flex your legs and stretch your feet
- Wear comfortable loose clothes
- Drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol.
Read prevention tips in more detail.
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Note: All hyperlinks on this page are directed to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute as part of the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.