Serena Williams worries (with good reason) of blood clots at the Open of Australia

Months after giving birth to her daughter, Serena Williams revealed that she had to have an emergency cesarean section and shortly thereafter she had a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening illness that occurs when a blood clot goes to the lungs. And although it's been a year and a half since Williams's daughter was born, she's still worried about blood clots.

Williams wore compression mesh stockings for his first-round match at the Australian Open which, it seems, is for his health and for the style. Williams told reporters at a press conference at the tournament that, by Reuters, she is "always worried" about blood clots and the possibility of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that forms in one or more deep veins in your body, usually in the legs.

"I've had some problems and they have not done it yet. So that's something I have to do for the rest of my career, we'll see it. But I'm still at the doctor, "said Williams. "With the PST, it's very scary," she continued. "A lot of people have them. Especially for me, it's incredibly scary. I'm extending to the precautionary side, as opposed to not.

Having a history of blood clots increases the risk of DVT in the future.

Deep vein thrombosis can be caused by anything that prevents your blood from circulating or clotting, as it would normally do, such as a vein injury, surgery, certain medications, and limited movement. Mayo Clinic said. Having an inherited blood clotting disorder, being pregnant, taking hormonal contraceptive pillsObesity, obesity, smoking and being over 60 also increase your risk.

Having PST in the past makes it more likely to have another, but it is difficult to estimate how often this happens. A recent study Researchers from Ohio State University, the Wexner Medical Center, found that out of 156 people with a history of DVT, more than 10% had another DVT during the three-year study period. years.

If you've ever had a DVT, your risk of having another blood clot usually depends on its cause the first time and your current risk factors, says Ashley Vavra, MD, professor of vascular surgery at the Feinberg School of Medicine. Medicine of Northwestern University. SOI. The extent of the clot at the time of the initial diagnosis and the amount of scar tissue it leaves also contribute to whether you are going to develop DVT again, says co-author Mounir Haurani, MD, a vascular surgeon at Wexner Medical Center's Ohio State University, tells SELF.

You can take certain steps to reduce your risk of having another blood clot.

Your doctor will probably take a blood-thinning medication right after your PST and continue to keep it "for a while," Jennifer Haythe, MD, co-director of Columbia University's Center for Cardiovascular Health at Irving. Medical Center and Cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia, tells SELF.

It just depends on your case, but it will probably take at least three months, Jack Jacoub, MD, hematologist and oncologist and medical director of MemorialCare Cancer Institute's Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif., Says SELF. But, if you still have other important risk factors for DVT or if your medical team is having trouble determining the cause of your first DVT, your doctor may prescribe an anticoagulant for longer than life, even your whole life. Said Haurani.

Some lifestyle changes, such as walking on long flights and train rides, stopping frequently during long breaks, and avoiding sitting for long periods of time, can also help, says Dr. Haythe. Wearing compression stockings if you know you will not be able to walk for long periods of time (such as on a long flight) can also be beneficial, says Dr. Vavra.

It is also important to to know the signs of DVT and pulmonary embolism– especially those you experienced last time – and act quickly if you start experimenting with them, says Dr. Jacoub. For DVT, this may include leg pain that may cause cramps or pain, red or discolored skin on the leg, and a feeling of heat in the leg. And for a pulmonary embolism, you may notice sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness, rapid pulse, and coughing blood.

If you have had DVT in the past, it is important to talk to your doctor about what it means for your health, now and in the future, and to continue this conversation. "All patients who have already had a DVT should see a primary care physician for regular checkups," says Dr. Vavra.

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