The right way to Decrease Your Danger of Blood Clots
A very powerful step in reducing your threat is to work intently together with your healthcare workforce. You need to talk about your private threat for blood clots and create a plan for prevention, particularly when your UC is flaring.
Nonetheless, the chance doesn’t disappear fully when signs subside. “Even when UC is beneath management, the chance of blood clots is greater than regular,” says Naseer. “Some irritation, lively platelets, and genetics can maintain this threat elevated.”
Listed here are extra steps you’ll be able to take.
1. Know the Signs of DVT
- Swelling within the legs or arms
- Ache or tenderness not attributable to an damage in these areas
- Pores and skin on the arm or leg that feels heat to the contact
- Redness or discoloration of the pores and skin on the arm or leg
- Sudden problem respiratory
- Chest ache that worsens while you take a deep breath
- Coughing up blood
- A quick or irregular heartbeat or respiratory
- Feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or fainting
2. Keep Energetic
“As a result of ulcerative colitis could make blood extra prone to clot, staying lively is essential,” says Naseer. “Attempt to stroll a number of occasions a day, even for brief distances. In the event you’re sitting or mendacity down for lengthy durations, transfer your legs and flex your ankles.” This helps maintain your blood circulating successfully.
3. Evaluation Your Drugs
Sure medicines can enhance the chance of blood clots as a facet impact, so it’s necessary to evaluate all the pieces you are taking together with your physician. This contains therapies for each your UC and another circumstances you could have. A number of examples embrace:
- Corticosteroids: “Steroids may help handle flares however could double or quadruple clot threat, which is why we use them solely short-term and taper them rapidly,” says Naseer.
- JAK inhibitors: This class of medicine is an efficient remedy for UC however carries a attainable threat of blood clots, which is famous in a warning from the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration.
- Mixed hormonal contraception: Some types of contraception, together with the mix capsule, patch, and ring, could barely enhance the chance of DVT.
This doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t take these medicines — quite, that is one thing your physician will consider when figuring out the very best remedy for you. Don’t cease taking your medicines with out speaking to your physician first. Treating your situation and attaining remission is the precedence.
4. Stop Smoking
5. Handle Your Weight
6. Be Conscious When Touring
“On lengthy journeys, get up and stretch a minimum of as soon as each hour or two,” says Naseer. “Protecting your blood shifting is among the easiest and simplest methods to decrease your threat of clots.”
- Elevate your heels whereas maintaining your toes on the ground, then decrease them.
- Subsequent, increase your toes whereas maintaining your heels on the ground, then decrease them. Do that for 30 seconds and repeat as many occasions as you’d like.
