Lifestyle Choices That Can Reduce Your Risk of Blood Clots
If you suffer from frequent blood clots, here are a few simple lifestyle changes you should consider.
Your blood naturally clots to prevent from excessive bleeding. Unfortunately, some clots can become so large that they constrict your veins allowing pressure to build up, which can cause significant damage to your circulatory system. If a clot enters the bloodstream, it can result in more serious complications, including deep vein thrombosis, stroke, or pulmonary embolism.
While most blood clots don’t pose an immediate threat to your health, if you experience frequent clotting, there are a number of simple lifestyle changes that you can make to help alleviate your symptoms.
Eat Healthy
When it comes to circulatory health, there’s a whole lot of truth to the old adage, “You are what you eat.” Here are a few dietary tips to help keep clotting to a minimum:
Drink plenty of water. Dehydration causes your blood to thicken, thereby increasing the likelihood that it will clot.
Drink moderate amounts of red wine or grape juice. In addition to eating five to seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day, studies have shown that purple grapes, kiwis, and virgin olive oil help prevent blood clots from forming.
Incorporate natural blood-thinners such as garlic, cinnamon, turmeric, and cayenne peppers into your diet.
Limit your consumption of animal fats, which can increase inflammation and have a generally negative effect on cardiovascular health.
Exercise Regularly
Physical activity helps improve circulation throughout your body, preventing blood from pooling in your veins. It also reduces the likelihood of diabetes, obesity, and other significant risk factors. Here are a few simple ways to promote good blood flow and circulatory health:
If your job involves remaining seated for long periods of time, be sure to get up and move around at least once every two hours.
Perform foot and leg exercises in the morning to encourage blood flow through the legs.
Walk, jog, bike, swim, or perform some other kind of moderate exercise on a regular basis.
A predisposition to blood clots is certainly inconvenient, but with the proper lifestyle choices and medical guidance, it’s a condition that can be easily managed. If you’re struggling with blood clots and would like to learn more about your treatment options, contact a specialist today.