Are you in a high-risk category?

Although DVT can occur in almost anyone, certain people may be at higher risk of developing a blood clot. If you fall into one of the following identified high-risk categories, talk to your doctor about what you can do to protect yourself from DVT.

• Cancer patients undergoing surgical procedures have at least twice the risk of postoperative DVT than non-cancer patients undergoing similar procedures.¹⁸
• Cancer may cause clotting factors in the blood to increase. Clotting factors may also be affected as a result of an infection or injury to a blood vessel or following surgery.¹⁸
• Obese patients may not be able to dissolve blood clots properly which may greatly increase their risk of DVT after surgery.¹⁹
• Patients with an inherited clotting disorder — e.g. Factor V Leiden are at an increased risk for developing DVT. If both parents were affected, their risk is at its highest.²⁰
• In patients with prolonged immobility or no mobility, blood flow can slow down and lead to blood "pooling," or accumulating in the extremities, thereby greatly increasing risk of DVT.
• In elderly patients, DVT is associated with a 21% one-year mortality rate. While most victims are 60 years of age or older, DVT can strike anyone at risk.¹⁸
• Women taking oral contraceptives or hormone replacement may be at increased risk of developing DVT.¹
• Patients with pulmonary embolism may experience shortness of breath, an apprehensive feeling, chest pain, rapid pulse, sweating or a bloody cough.¹
• 1/3 of patients who have experienced venous thromboembolism develop it again within eight years of the initial event.
• Patients with congestive heart failure have three times the risk for developing blood clots.¹⁹
• Patients who smoke have an increased risk of blood clots.²¹ Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen carried in the blood, which damages vessel walls, increasing the risk of blood clots.
• 50% of patients with deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism have "silent" or minimal symptoms.²