Top causes of blood clots in the legs and how to avoid them

Blood clots in the legs (deep-vein thrombosis, or DVT) can break loose and travel through the veins to the heart and then to the lungs, causing a dangerous pulmonary embolism. Common triggers for blood clots include being bedridden for long periods; sitting for long periods in a car, plane, or train; or getting too little activity and sitting too much. To avoid blood clots in the legs, it helps to hydrate, get up from sitting every hour or two and stretch the legs, move the legs while lying down, or wear compression stockings.