close window
Housecall Archives
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you have factor V Leiden, avoiding certain situations might help to reduce your risk of developing blood clots. These include:
- Uninterrupted long car or airline trips. When your legs remain still for long periods, your calf muscles don't contract, which normally helps blood circulate. If you can, try to move around whenever possible on a plane. In addition, don't drink alcohol, but do drink extra water to prevent dehydration. On a car trip, take periodic breaks and walk around.
- Prolonged bed rest, such as during a long illness, or paralysis. When your legs remain still for long periods, your calf muscles don't contract to help blood circulate. Your doctor may suggest the use of compression stockings to keep the blood in your legs moving.
- Injury or surgery. Injury to your veins or surgery can slow blood flow, increasing the risk of blood clots. General anesthetics used during surgery can dilate your veins, which can increase the risk of blood pooling and then clotting. Let your doctor know that you have factor V Leiden.
- Oral contraceptives or estrogen replacement therapy. Because these medications can increase the risk of blood clots on their own, be sure to discuss the risks and the benefits of estrogen-containing medications with your doctor if you have factor V Leiden.
- Being overweight or obese. Being overweight increases the pressure in the veins in your pelvis and legs. Losing weight can lower your risk.
- Smoking. Smoking affects blood clotting and circulation. If you're a smoker, take steps to quit.
If your factor V Leiden requires you to take anticoagulant medication, here are some steps that might help prevent injury and avoid excessive bleeding. Consider these suggestions:
- Avoid playing contact sports or engaging in other activities that could be result in physical injury. However, regular noncontact exercise is still recommended for good health.
- Use a soft toothbrush and waxed floss.
- Avoid shaving cuts. Shave with an electric razor.
- Be cautious with household tasks involving knives, scissors and other sharp tools.
References
- Learning about factor v Leiden thrombophilia. National Human Genome Research Institute. http://www.genome.gov/pfv.cfm?pageID=15015167. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Ornstein DL, et al. Factor V Leiden. Circulation. 2003;107:e94.
- Deep vein thrombosis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec07/ch081/ch081b.html. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Pulmonary embolism. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec05/ch050/ch050a.html. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Laubach J, et al. Hematological changes of pregnancy. In: Hoffman R, et al. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06715-0..X5001-8--TOP&isbn=978-0-443-06715-0&uniq=203749156. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Konkle BA, et al. Hemostasis, thrombosis, fibrinolysis, and cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, et al. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..X5001-8--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-4106-1&uniq=203749156. Accessed May 21, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on