Blood clots can affect people of any age, gender, race, or ethnicity.

Risk factors are things that increase your chances of developing a disease. Known risk factors for blood clots include:

  • A hospital stay
  • Surgery
  • Major trauma, such as a car accident, fall, or head injury
  • Infection
  • Inflammatory or autoimmune disease
  • Active cancer/chemotherapy
  • Estrogen-containing birth control pills and hormone replacement therapies
  • Pregnancy
  • Obesity
  • Leg paralysis
  • History of heart attack or stroke
  • Prior blood clot(s)
  • Family history of blood clots
  • Genetic or acquired clotting disorders
  • Immobility (limited movement), including:
    • Being on bedrest
    • Being sedentary, meaning that you sit most of the day and are not physically active
    • Traveling for long periods of time (4+ hours on a plane, car, or train)

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