Practical Steps to Minimize Risk of Blood Clots

Practical Steps to Minimize Risk
Try to maintain ideal body weight for your sex and height.
Stay active and try to get regular exercise through such activities as walking, bicycling, or swimming.
Avoid prolonged periods of immobility. For example, stop the car, get out, and walk around every few hours during a long trip. On an airplane, drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, walk the aisles, and avoid alcohol. Wearing elastic stockings with a moderate level of compression (15 to 20 mm Hg) may prevent DVT from developing on long flights.
Don’t smoke.
If you have other chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or congestive heart failure, work with your doctors to try to keep these problems under good control.
Let your doctors know that you have factor V Leiden so that they can administer blood thinners or provide you with mechanical compression boots for your legs if you are hospitalized or need surgery.