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By Stephanie Lew, PT, DPT Originally from The Beat — Spring People who are diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism PE- a blood clot in the lungs or deep vein thrombosis DVT — a blood clot in the deep veins, typically in the legs often have a lot of questions about when it is safe to start exercising, what exercises are safe for them to do, and what symptoms if any they might experience upon return to exercise.
You want to warm-up first by walking slowly for 5 minutes, then increase your activity each week as follows: Week 1 — Walk for 5 minutes at a comfortable pace, times per day Week 2 — Walk for 10 minutes, 3 times per day Week 3 — Walk for 15 minutes 2 times per day Week 4 — Walk for 30 minutes, once daily Your goal is to walk for 30 to 45 minutes, 5 to 7 days per week.
Blood tests to make sure that the warfarin dose is correct must be done. Instead of warfarin, you may be prescribed newer blood thinners such as rivaroxaban Xarelto or apixaban Eliquis ; these medications do not require periodic blood tests to monitor levels. The health care provider may also recommend special stockings to control swelling in the legs. Overweight people should lose weight and become more active to prevent future clots.
What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis? What Causes DVT? DO call your health care provider immediately if you have chest pain or cough up blood. DO call your health care provider before you go on a long trip and ask your health care provider about taking aspirin if you are no longer taking warfarin or other blood thinners. DO try to keep your legs elevated when sitting or lying down. Try these moves next time travel, work, or an illness keeps you stuck in one place. You know that a sedentary lifestyle can put you at risk of obesity , diabetes , and heart disease.
But there is actually a more immediate danger — developing deep vein thrombosis DVT. DVT is a clot that forms in a deep vein, typically in the lower leg or thigh.
Left untreated, these clots can break off and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing a blockage called a pulmonary embolism , which can be fatal. While DVT is often associated with airplane travel, any form of inactivity can increase your risk of developing a blood clot, says Rachel Rosovsky, MD , a hematologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Without muscle contractions, which normally help blood circulate, blood flow slows and becomes more prone to clotting. Being inactive is especially dangerous when combined with other risk factors for the condition , such as being overweight or having a predisposition to blood clotting.
While an estimated , Americans are affected by DVT each year, resulting in nearly , deaths, these dangerous blood clots can be prevented, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Making certain lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk. Another important way to prevent DVT is simply to move more — even if it's just working some simple leg exercises and stretches into your day.
Anyone who is inactive can develop DVT, says Rosovsky, but there are certain situations and conditions that increase your chances of forming a dangerous blood clot :. Being older DVT can occur at any age, but your risk increases as you get older. An inherited disorder on its own might not cause blood clots, but it could when combined with one or more other risk factors.
Taking a hormone-based medication Women who take birth control pills or get hormone therapy have an increased risk of clotting. The risk tends to be highest in the first few months after starting on one of these medications, says the NHLBI.
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