You'll want to ask your doctor this question for the answer specific to your situation. Known factors that put patients at increased risk for blood clots include:
age (increased risk after age 65 years)
obesity
history of heart disease, stroke, or cancer
history of previous clots
diabetes
These are listed in order from highest to lowest. Other less powerful factors include varicose veins, previous heart attack, and use of hormone replacement for menopause. The
risk of forming a life-threatening blood clot increases in patients who have more than one of these factors at a time.
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