● Certain birth control methods that contain estrogen, especially when taken by women over the age of 35
● Pregnancy and being postnatal, especially in later pregnancy stages and the six weeks after a baby is born
● Car accident or major trauma
● Hormone replacement therapy
● Family history of blood clots
● Obesity
● Chronic illness or conditions which confine a person to a wheelchair or bed
● Sitting for extended periods of time, such as on long flights or car trips
● Smoking
There are several common types of blood clots, but the two most common are perhaps deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and a pulmonary embolism (PE). Each comes with its own telltale signs, which include:
Deep Vein Thrombosis
DVTs occur when a blood clot forms in an extremity, most commonly in one of the thighs or lower legs, although they can also occur in other parts of the body. While DVTs themselves may not be serious, the clot that forms in the leg may break loose, becoming an embolus, and travel to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, arteries, or heart. There, it can block blood flow to major organs and cause significant damage or death.