Deep vein thrombosis is a severe health condition wherein blood clots develop in one of the body’s major veins. It can affect anyone. However, some people are at a higher risk of developing DVT than others. DVT develops when a blood clot appears in one of the deep veins, primarily in the legs. These clots can be very dangerous. At times, the clots travel to the lungs and become life-threatening.

So what are the key risk factors and prevention methods of DVT? Read below to find out.

1. Risk factors of DVT
The knowledge of risk factors and prevention of DVT go hand in hand. If you have a greater risk of developing DVT, you must take adequate prevention measures to avoid contracting the disease. Some of the key risk factors include:

• Age
  Though DVT can occur at any age, people over 60 are at a greater risk.
• Sitting still for long durations
  When your legs stay still for a longer duration, your calf muscles do not contract. These contractions support blood circulation.
• Prolonged bed rest, following a paralysis or hospital stay
  If the calf muscles do not move for a long duration, blood clots may develop.
• Surgery or injury
  Surgery or injury to the veins also heightens the risk of DVT.
• Pregnancy
  When you are pregnant, the pressure on the veins in the legs and pelvis is high. The risk is greater in women who have an inherited clotting disorder.
• Oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy(HRT)
  Both birth control pills and HRT can also heighten your risk of developing clots.
• Being overweight
  When you are overweight, the pressure on the veins in the legs and pelvis is high. This increases the risk of DVT.
• Smoking
  Smoking hampers blood circulation and blood clotting and increases DVT risk.
• Cancer
  Certain kinds of cancer can aggravate the substances in the blood, which can result in a clot. At times cancer treatment might also heighten the risk of blood clots.
• Heart failure
  Heart failure might also aggravate your risk of pulmonary embolism and DVT.
• Inflammatory bowel diseases
  Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are also DVT risk factors.
• Genetics
  People inherit genetic disorders or risk factors, such as factor V Leiden, which can make the blood clot more easily.
• Familial link
  If you or someone in the family has had PE or DVT, the risk of DVT is high.
• No known risk factors
  At times, a blood clot might appear in the vein without any underlying risk factor. It is known as unprovoked VTE.

2. Prevention of DVT
Some of the tips to prevent DVT include:

• Keep body active
  Following surgery, you should try to stay mobile to lower the risk of blood clots.
• Maintain pressure on the at-risk areas
  Pressure lowers the risk of blood clotting and pooling. You can wear compression stockings to build pressure.
• Take anticoagulant medication
  This blood-thinning medication can also lower the clotting risk both before and after the surgery.
• Lose weight
  As obesity is a prevalent risk factor, you can consider losing some pounds to reduce the risk.