MD Podiatrist Discusses Causes and Prevention of VTEs

Blood clotting””also known as venous thromboembolism (VTE)””is a necessary function in the human body for wound healing and for stopping bleeding, but blood clots can also be dangerous if they form in the wrong place and don’t dissolve. According to the CDC, 900,000 Americans a year are affected by blood clots, resulting in nearly 100,000 deaths. “Surgery is also one of the leading causes of blood clots in patients, which means those at highest risk need to be diligent in speaking to their surgeon about their elevated risks so preventive measures can be taken,” says Dan Michaels, DPM.  
 
“The biggest recommendation you see in the airline magazines when you’re flying is to move your legs to prevent DVT, because people who sit on a long flight have a high incidence of DVT,” Dr. Michaels explained. “Similarly, if you’re sitting after surgery and the blood is not moving in the calf and you’re not exercising, you could end up with a clot in your calf. Surgeons have learned over the years that getting people moving after surgery will reduce the risk of a clot causing a pulmonary embolism.”