What Are Blood Clot Disorders?

Medically reviewed by Nancy L. Harthun, MD, MS, FACS, RVT, on September 28, 2025

Blood clot disorders, also called coagulation disorders, hypercoagulable disorders, or thrombophilias, are conditions in which the body’s mechanisms for forming and dissolving clots malfunction. Usually, clots protect us by stopping bleeding after an injury. But when something goes wrong, clots may form inappropriately inside veins or dissolve too slowly, with potentially serious consequences. 

For people living with vein disease or venous insufficiency, understanding blood clot disorders is vital. It is recommended that a vein expert be consulted to diagnose, treat, and prevent blood clot problems before they develop into potentially serious conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).

We Turned to a Vein Expert for Help

We consulted with Dr. Nancy L. Harthun, a vein specialist at Center for Vein Restoration (CVR), to gain a deeper understanding of the causes of blood clot disorders, the warning signs to watch for, and the most effective ways to prevent and treat them. Her expertise sheds light on why recognizing these conditions early is critical—and how modern vein care can help protect your long-term health.

Dr. Harthun is the lead physician at CVR’s vein clinic in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

📅To schedule a consultation with Dr. Harthun in Fort Wayne, Indiana, CLICK HERE.

📍Don’t live near Fort Wayne, Indiana? Call 240-965-3915 to speak to a helpful Patient Services Representative or schedule your consultation online at one of 110+ CVR vein clinics near you.

The Link Between Blood Clot Disorders and Venous Insufficiency

Vein problems often involve not only superficial veins (such as spider veins and varicose veins) but also the deep venous systems. When clots form inside the deep veins, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), they can damage vein valves, leading to worsening venous insufficiency. Damaged, refluxing veins allow blood to pool, increasing pressure, swelling, and worsening pain. Meanwhile, the lymphatic system normally helps drain fluid and debris from tissues; if lymph drainage is compromised, swelling worsens, and the risk of infections and skin changes increases.

According to the National Library of Medicine (NIH), a condition called phlebolymphedema is critical to understand for those with vein disease. It’s the most common type of lymphedema in the Western world and happens when long-standing vein problems, like chronic venous insufficiency, put too much strain on the lymphatic system. 

When high pressure in the veins causes extra fluid and proteins to leak into the tissues, the lymphatic system cannot keep up. This buildup leads to swelling, inflammation, and skin changes such as discoloration or thickening. Sometimes the lymphatics are overwhelmed, and sometimes they’re damaged, which makes the problem even harder to control.

Conditions like obesity, heart failure, kidney or liver disease, and certain medications that cause fluid buildup can make phlebolymphedema worse. Doctors usually diagnose it by looking for signs such as swelling on the top of the foot, toes that look swollen or “sausage-like,” and thickened skin. Sometimes they use a simple skin-pinch test or an ultrasound (duplex) to check how the veins are working. 

Schedule a Consultation with a Vein Specialist for Leg Swelling Relief

If you’re noticing swelling on the top of your foot, sausage-like toes, or skin changes in your legs, don’t wait. These are more than cosmetic concerns and may signal a vein problem. A consultation with a Center for Vein Restoration vein specialist gives you access to advanced diagnostics like duplex ultrasound and proven treatments. Our experts can pinpoint the cause of your swelling and design a treatment plan that truly helps.

Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward healthier legs ⬇️.

What Causes Blood Clot Disorders?

Blood clot disorders happen when the body’s natural balance between clotting and thinning the blood gets out of sync. Some people are born with a higher risk (genetic), others develop it later in life due to health conditions or lifestyle, and sometimes it’s a mix of both.

Common causes and risk factors include:

• Inherited conditions: Some people are born with gene changes, like Factor V Leiden or prothrombin mutations, that make the blood more likely to clot.
• Health or lifestyle factors: Being overweight, having certain cancers, taking hormone therapy or birth control pills with estrogen, long periods of sitting or bed rest (such as after surgery or during travel), pregnancy, recent infections, inflammation, or injuries to the veins can all raise clot risk.
• Vein problems: Varicose veins and venous insufficiency can slow blood flow in the legs, increasing the risk of clot formation. Damaged vein valves or high venous pressure further increase the risk.
• Lymphatic issues: If the lymphatic system (which helps drain excess fluid) isn’t working correctly, swelling and fluid buildup make tissues more vulnerable. This often occurs alongside vein disease in a condition called phlebolymphedema.

If you’re dealing with leg swelling, heaviness, or discomfort, a vein specialist at Center for Vein Restoration can help identify the underlying cause and recommend the proper vein treatment to lower your clot risk and improve your quality of life.

📞 Call Center for Vein Restoration at 240-965-3915 
📅 Or book online HERE

What Are Common Blood Clot Disorders?

• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): A clot in a deep leg (arm, pelvis) vein. Symptoms include swelling, leg pain or cramping, warmth, and redness. If untreated, a piece may break off and cause a pulmonary embolism, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH).
• Venous Thromboembolism (VTE): A term covering DVT and pulmonary embolism.
• Superficial thrombophlebitis: Clots in veins near the skin surface; often benign but can extend or indicate deeper issues (source).
• Phlebolymphedema: As we’ve already learned, a mix of chronic venous and lymphatic insufficiency can lead to swelling, skin changes, and venous ulcers.

Symptoms: When to See a Vein Expert or Vein Doctor

Because blood clot disorders and vein disease often overlap, signs to watch for include:

• Leg pain, especially in the calf, thigh, or along varicose veins (source).
• Swelling of one leg more than the other, worse when standing and better on elevation.
• Varicose veins that are painful, heavy, and aching. Spider veins can occur alongside chronic venous disease, but on their own, they do not confirm faulty valves; evaluation relies on duplex ultrasound.
• Skin changes: discoloration, ulcers, thickening.
• Redness, warmth, or tenderness over a vein.
• Sudden chest pain or shortness of breath requires emergency evaluation for possible pulmonary embolism.

Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) offers a dedicated DVT rule-out service. Our expert providers will evaluate your symptoms, review your medical history, and use advanced imaging, like Doppler ultrasound, to ensure an accurate diagnosis and timely care.

Call our DVT hotline at 877-SCAN-DVT (877-722-6388) for information or to schedule an appointment.

How to Prevent Blood Clots: Strategies & Vein Treatment

Prevention is especially important if you have risk factors like varicose veins, venous insufficiency, obesity, immobility, or a prior blood clot. Key strategies include:

1. Lifestyle modifications
   • Stay active: walking and leg exercises improve venous return (source).
   • Avoid prolonged sitting or standing. If confined (travel, bed rest), flex ankles, shift positions, and take breaks (source).
   • Manage weight; obesity raises venous pressure and clot risk (source).
   • Stop smoking; smoking damages vessels and promotes clotting (source).
2. Compression therapy
   Compression stockings help reduce swelling, improve flow, and relieve symptoms in varicose veins, venous insufficiency, or post-DVT.
3. Medical treatment
   • Anticoagulant (“blood thinner”) therapy when indicated (source).
   • Address underlying drivers like cancer, autoimmune disease, or hormone therapy.
4. Vein-focused treatments
   Modern outpatient vein procedures, like ablation or sclerotherapy, are minimally invasive and designed to close unhealthy veins so blood flows more efficiently. These treatments can reduce symptoms such as pain, swelling, and heaviness.
5. Lymphatic support
   Compression garments and physical therapy help maintain lymph drainage, reduce swelling, and protect tissues. The Mayo Clinic recommends that you consult with a venous and lymphatic specialist if you notice persistent swelling in your leg or arm, a dramatic increase in the size of a limb, or have been diagnosed with lymphedema.

6. Special precautions

   • During surgery or immobility, doctors may use anticoagulation or compression devices.
   • For long travel, hydrate, move legs, and use compression if advised.

Because every patient’s risk of blood clots is different, Center for Vein Restoration vein doctors create personalized plans to prevent clots around the time of treatment, using proven safety measures when needed.  

What Can a Vein Specialist Do About Blood Clot Disorders?

Blood clot disorders are complex, but you don’t have to face them alone. Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) vein specialists are uniquely trained to understand how clotting problems overlap with varicose veins, venous insufficiency, swelling, and leg pain. 

Importantly, research published by PubMed Central shows people with varicose veins have a higher observed risk of VTE, and genetic analyses suggest a possible causal link to DVT, though confounding remains.

At CVR, we can:

• Perform diagnostic imaging (duplex ultrasound, reflux testing).
• Evaluate for clots and valve damage.
• Treat varicose and spider veins to relieve pain, swelling, and venous insufficiency.
• Provide tailored prevention if you have inherited disorders or multiple risk factors.
• Monitor for complications like post-thrombotic syndrome or ulcers.
• Prescribe medicine that thins the blood, prevents progression and movement of clots, and/or helps dissolve clots.
• Monitor the effectiveness of medication.

Don’t wait until leg pain, swelling, or varicose veins turn into something more dangerous. Schedule a consultation with a Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) vein specialist today to protect your circulation and safeguard your health. Call 240-965-3915 to speak with a Patient Services Representative or schedule your consultation online at a CVR near you today.

Protect Your Vein Health Before Complications Arise

Blood clot disorders are not just “blood issues” in isolation; they intersect with vein disease, venous insufficiency, varicose and spider veins, swelling, and leg pain. Causes include genetics, lifestyle, vein damage, immobility, and inflammation, often overlapping with lymphatic function. 

The good news: prevention and treatment strategies are effective when guided by a qualified, board-certified Center for Vein Restoration vein specialist.

Don’t wait until a clot or serious complication develops. Schedule a consultation with a Center for Vein Restoration vein specialist today to protect your circulation, relieve your symptoms, and safeguard your long-term health.