Blood clots are a dangerous vascular phenomena that occur when blood platelets thicken in a certain area of your body, forming a semisolid mass of blood (clot) over time. Blood clots are associated with many often-fatal blood conditions including:
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Heart Attack
- Heart Failure
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Stroke
DVT is one of the most common and potentially fatal vascular attacks that occurs as a result of blood clots. After you finish this article, we recommend taking a look at this article which provides a synopsis on DVT and how it can be prevented.
Let’s take a deeper look into some of the most common contributors to unhealthy blood clotting and DVT:
Oral Contraceptives (and other medications)
Certain prescription medication groups have proven to increase the risk of blood clots, and the most common of these are oral contraceptives (birth control pills) - this is applicable when taking birth control pills over a long period of time. You should consider an alternative form of contraception if you plan on using contraceptives long term or indefinitely.
Smoking
Any amount of smoking is unhealthy, whether it be a traditional tobacco cigarette or a newer vape or e-cig. Nicotine, found in all forms of traditional cigarettes and most new electronic smoking devices, causes your blood vessels to constrict, making blood clots much more likely to build over time. Smoking long term dramatically increases your chance of developing a blood clot or having a massive stroke.
Dehydration - Excessive Consumption of Coffee, Soda and Beyond
This is among the most common causes of blood clots! Dehydration is another condition that causes blood vessels to narrow and blood to thicken, providing an environment conducive to blood clot formation. A national study on dehydration by the Nutrition Information Center, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, determined that approximately 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
Drinking excessive amounts of coffee or soda throughout the day are a common cause. Coffee and soda both contain caffeine, which is a diuretic—a substance that causes you to push more water out of your system by producing more urine than normal. A couple servings of caffeine a day are OK, as long as you are drinking plenty of water to compensate.
The other most common cause of dehydration is simply not drinking enough water a day. The bare minimum medical recommendation is to drink at least 8 cups of water a day, which many people fail to do - this is the most common cause of dehydration. Bottom line, drink plenty of water to reduce dehydration and your risk of blood clots!
Obesity
Obesity has both direct and indirect contributions to blood clots. Indirectly, obesity causes many vascular, mobility, and other functional medical diseases that increase your risk of getting a blood clot. Directly, obesity increases blood clot risk due to constant increased inflammation in the vascular system, leaving blood more susceptible to clotting.
Additionally, increased abdominal pressure caused by obesity decreases the functionality of muscles that act to return blood from the legs and lower body back to the heart, resulting in blood clotting in the legs. Starting an exercise program, adopting healthy eating habits that lead to weight loss, and wearing compression socks are all measures you can implement now to fight obesity and reduce your risk of having a blood clot.
Occupations Where You Stand or Sit for Long Periods of Time
According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research: “When your legs remain still for hours, your calf muscles don't contract, which normally helps blood circulate.” If you have a desk job where remaining in a continuous sitting or standing position is the norm for you, or have a career as a pilot, flight attendant, nurse, truck driver, or production line worker - you are at risk! The best way to prevent blood clots in these occupations is to stay hydrated, get up and move around as frequently as possible, and wear compression socks at work in order to increase your blood circulation and prevent clotting.
Wear Compression Socks - They Can Help Prevent Blood Clots and Ultimately Save a Life!
Compression socks work to improve blood circulation by pressurizing the circulatory system in your legs, boosting blood flow and creating a positive circulatory environment in your lower body.
Physix Gear Sport is the World Leader in compression gear, making the best compression socks and compression socks that are trendy looking that will boost your self esteem and confidence to wear! Click here to head to the Physix Gear store and check out our super affordable offers. We guarantee you’ll like our comfortable compression socks, or send them back and we’ll give you a full refund!