Here are steps you can take to reduce the recurrence of blood clots: • Tell your HCP and other family members if there is a history of blood clots • If you have to be confined to a bed, ask your HCP about options to prevent blood clots • Get up and move if you’ve been sitting or traveling for a long time. Stand up, walk, and stretch your legs every two to three hours • Maintain a healthy weight Blood Clot • Don’t smoke or take steps to quit smoking • Your HCP may prescribe compression Treatment and stockings to alleviate persistent pain and swelling. Recovery What are the long-term complications of blood clots? A Patient’s Guide Most patients do not develop long-term com- plications and recover completely. However, some can develop the following complications: • Post-thrombotic syndrome: persistent swelling, pain, and discoloration of the skin in the affected arm or leg • 2-4% of PE patients will have chronic lung damage (thromboembolic pulmonary hy- pertension) • Further episodes of clotting • Anxiety and/or depression Contact your HCP if these symptoms do not improve. 8321 Old Courthouse Road | Suite 255 | Vienna, VA 22182 www.stoptheclot.org You have been diagnosed Talk to your HCP about which medication is right • Some HCPs suggest waiting a few for you. The treatment goals are: weeks to travel after a blood clot. with a blood clot in a vein. • Stop an existing clot from growing When you do resume traveling, move around at least 5 minutes every two • Prevent the formation of a new clot that hours and stay well hydrated. could break off, travel to the lungs and be- Here is information your healthcare come a PE As you recover from this clot, how can you provider (HCP) wants you to know: • Avoid or minimize long-term complications prevent another blood clot from forming? It is very important to take your blood clot med- First, know your risk for blood clots. Risk What is a blood clot? icine as prescribed to avoid serious complica- factors include: A blood clot that forms in the deep veins, tions, like another clot. • A previous blood clot and/or a family history usually in a person’s leg or arm, is called deep Your treatment will continue until your HCP of blood clots Hospitalization for illness or surgery, espe- vein thrombosis (DVT). It can block the flow of determines you are no longer at risk for a recur- • cially knee or hip replacement blood causing swelling, pain and red or purplish rence. This decision depends on a number of factors such as: • Severe trauma, like a car accident, broken discoloration. Sometimes these clots break off bone or severe muscle injury • The location of the clot and travel to the lungs. This is a more serious • Cancer and cancer treatments • The reason why a blood clot formed medical condition called a pulmonary embolism Birth control or hormone therapy with estrogen (the risk factors that contributed to your clot) • (PE) that can be life-threatening and requires • Pregnancy, which includes the twelve immediate medical attention. • How well you have tolerated the blood thinner weeks after the baby is born • Your future bleeding risk • Smoking What is the treatment for blood clots? Age 55 or older What are potential side effects of blood thinners? • The primary treatment is medication that pre- • Chronic illnesses such as heart and lung The most common side effect is the risk of vents abnormal clotting, known as an anti- conditions, or diabetes bleeding. Symptoms of bleeding include: coagulant or “blood-thinner”. Blood-thinners • Obesity increase the time it takes for blood to clot. They • Blood in your urine or stools • Confinement to bed stop new blood clots from forming and keep • In women, heavy bleeding during a period or • Sitting too long, especially with legs crossed existing clots from growing larger. They do not other heavy vaginal bleeding • Long travel (> 4 hours). • Severe bruising dissolve a clot. However, by preventing clots Second, recognize the signs and symptoms of from getting bigger, they allow your body’s own • Prolonged nosebleeds (lasting longer than blood clots and contact your HCP: 10 minutes) clot busting system time to dissolve existing • Swelling, usually in one leg or arm blood clots. • Coughing up blood • Leg pain or tenderness that feels like a For any type of bleeding, seek medical help as cramp or Charlie horse Blood-thinners may be given as: soon as possible if it does not stop as quickly as Reddish or bluish skin discoloration • a pill by mouth you would expect. • • an injection (shot) into the skin • Leg (or arm) warm to touch. When can you resume normal activities? • an injection into a vein (IV) • If you had symptoms such as pain and The signs and symptoms of a PE include: Common anticoagulant medicines include: swelling, they usually improve days after you • Sudden shortness of breath start your medicine and you can resume • Chest or back pain-sharp, stabbing; may get • Coumadin®, Jantoven® (warfarin) most normal activities at that time. worse with deep breath • Lovenox® (enoxaparin) • Safely resuming exercise and sports is a • Rapid heart rate Savaysa® (edoxaban) • decision to make with your HCP, and de- • Unexplained cough, sometimes with bloody ® • Pradaxa (dabigatran) pends on your physical condition. Walking mucus. • Eliquis® (apixaban) or swimming are usually considered good CALL AN AMBULANCE OR 911 IMMEDIATELY Xarelto® (rivaroxaban) • choices as exercise. IF YOU EXPERIENCE THESE PE SYMPTOMS. .