Should You Avoid Exercise If You Have a Blood Clot in Your Heart?
People experiencing symptoms of a blood clot in the heart should see a doctor immediately and not exercise because blood clots left untreated can lead to blockages that are lethal, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute as well as the Dr. Weil Institute. A blockage known as a pulmonary embolism occurs in the lung but travels to another area on the body, such as the leg, and can seriously damage vital organs.
Blood clots are not a condition to be taken lightly and if a person believes that they have one, it is imperative that they seek immediate treatment at a hospital. The reason for this is that 30 percent of all patients with pulmonary embolisms, a form of a blood clot, die within hours after the clot moves through the body, reports the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. It is estimated that as many as 600,000 people are affected by blood clots every year.
There are steps that a person can take to help reduce the prevalence of blood clots in his or her body, according to the National Blood Clot Alliance. The first step is to maintain a healthy weight as people who are overweight are at a higher risk of developing blood clots. The next step is to ensure that the person is active and does not smoke as well as works to stretch his or her body after long periods of inactivity.
