SEATTLE — Blood clots in the veins are common and can often be treated, a UW Medicine doctor said, urging people to know the warning signs and talk with a health care provider if they have concerns.
Dr. Kathleen Gibson, a vascular surgeon with UW Medical Center, said “venous blood clots are very common.” She said doctors find blood clots in patients regularly and that “about 8% of the population will have them sometime during their life.”
Gibson said the risk increases with age. “Every decade that we age, blood clots become more common,” she said. “They can happen with long plane flights. They can really happen after injury or after someone gets sick or immobilized.”
Blood clots often occur in the legs, and Gibson said a “painful, swollen leg is not normal.”
Gibson emphasized that treatment is available for many patients. “This is treatable. With most patients they don’t need surgery or anything to correct this. They can go on a medication like blood thinner for a period of time,” she said.
She also referenced Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, saying, “In the case of Jalen Hurts, his doctors say they expect a full recovery. And that’s what we see with most patients. Most patients do very well if it’s caught early. So that’s the good news.” She added, “Go Hawks.”
While blood clots can be life-threatening, Gibson said outcomes are often good when the condition is caught early. She encouraged people to talk to their health care provider if they have a family history of blood clots or if they develop pain and swelling in their legs.
To reduce the risk of a blood clot, doctors suggest doing calf raises after sitting for a while, getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.