Risk of the blood clot
Preventing the formation of further blood clots is a major goal of PE healing. Your risk of blood clots may be increased by a number of risk factors, including:
- prior experience with blood clots
- Older age
- Certain health conditions such as obesity [2], cancer, infections like COVID-19 [3], heart failure, heart attack, and stroke [4], among others sustaining a spinal cord damage or breaking your leg or hip is serious trauma.
- pregnancy
- Genetic disorders like factor V Leiden thrombophilia increase the risk of blood clots
- using hormone-based drugs, such as hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills
- surgical techniques
- Long periods of immobility, such as bed rest or lengthy distance travel
In general, your risk of getting a blood clot increases the more risk factors you have.
Your doctor will evaluate your risk for more blood clots as you recover from a PE. Higher risk individuals could require longer-term blood-thinning drug use.