5 Ways to Prevent Blood Clot Disorder

Blood Clot Formation occurs when you cut or injure yourself; your body stops the bleeding by forming a blood clot. Biologically it is said that the proteins and particles in your blood, called platelets, stick together to form the blood clot. The process of forming a clot is called coagulation. Normal coagulation is important during an injury, as it helps stop a cut from bleeding and starts the healing process. Hypercoagulable states are usually genetic (inherited) or acquired conditions. The genetic form of this disorder means a person is born with the tendency to form blood clots. Acquired conditions are usually a result of surgery, trauma, medications or a medical condition that increases the risk of hypercoagulable states. But since this article is talking about Blood clot disorder, this brings us to the explanation of what blood clot disorder entails.

Blood clot disorder occurs when blood forms clots more often than it is supposed to. Your body maintains normal blood flow because of a balance of molecules called procoagulant factors and anticoagulant factors. Any imbalance of these factors can lead to a blood clotting disorder. The most common type of hereditary coagulation disorders is Hemophilia.

This is a rare disorder in which the blood doesn't clot in the typical way because it doesn't have enough blood-clotting proteins (clotting factors). If you have hemophilia, you might bleed for a longer time after an injury than you would if your blood clotted properly. 

Therefore, the 5 ways of preventing Blood Clotting Disorder are listed below. 

1. Raise your legs 6 inches above your heart from time to time.

When you're sitting or standing, oxygen-depleted blood in your legs must also work against gravity in order to return to your heart.  This means that gravity is now working in your favor which may help improve blood flow in the veins in your legs. 

2. Wear special stockings (called compression stockings) if your doctor prescribes them.

Compression stockings apply pressure to your legs and ankles, which may reduce the diameter of major veins by increasing the volume and velocity of blood flow up toward the heart which helps to prevent blood from refluxing downward to the foot or laterally into superficial veins.

3. Maintaining a healthy weight

Eating a healthy diet can strengthen your bodies and joints, helps you maintain an ideal weight, makes the body more efficiently circulates blood and enables the body fluid levels to be properly and easily managed.

4. Avoid crossing the legs

Avoid keeping your legs crossed for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Get up and walk around or just stand up and stretch if you've been sitting for more than 30 minutes. This is because researchers and Doctors will often tell you to uncross your legs because blood pressure rises slightly when you cross your legs at the knee. 

5. Standing or sitting for no longer than an hour at a time

A growing amount of research suggests that just standing -- even if you don't walk around -- can have health benefits. To get the right balance, sit 20 minutes out of every half hour at work, standing for eight minutes and moving around for at least two minutes. This will stop the sluggish blood flow through the legs.