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Home > Resources > How to stop a blood clot happening before, during and after your hospital stay

How to stop a blood clot happening before, during and after your hospital stay

Easy read patient information

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Blood clots are dangerous. This information tells you what you can do to stop a blood clot happening.

Before you come to hospital

Healthy food and a thumbs-up

Eat a healthy diet.

People exercising and thumbs-up

Do some exercise.

A cigarette symbol with a red line through it

Stop smoking.

While you are in hospital

A person walking and a person doing chair exercises next to a thumbs-up.

Keep moving.

If it is hard to walk, move your legs in bed or in a chair.

A glass of water, a cup of tea and a glass of orange squash next to a thumbs-up.

Drink lots of water, tea or squash.

Photo of support stockings out of the packet next to the support stockings packet.

The nurse might give you special stockings to wear.

You must wear them all the time.

If they hurt, tell someone.

When you get home

A person walking and a person doing chair exercises next to a thumbs-up.

Keep moving.

A glass of water, a cup of tea and a glass of orange squash next to a thumbs-up.

Keep drinking lots of water, tea or squash.

A person walking with a tick next to them and a photo of surgical stockings with a cross next to them.

If you were given stockings, you can take them off when you are able to move around.

What are the signs of a blood clot?

A person with a sore red patch on the back of their leg with a green arrow pointing to it.

Swelling, redness or pain in your leg.

A person with red marks on their chest to show they are in pain, a person coughing and a person lying on the floor.
  • Chest pain.
  • Hard to breathe.
  • Coughing.
  • Collapse.
A person talking to another person, a green arrow pointing to an ambulance, and a picture of a hospital with beds and doctors.

These signs can be dangerous.

Do not ignore them.

Tell someone or go to the hospital.

Who can I call for help?

Call 999 in an emergency.

For advice call:

St Richards Hospital 01243 788122 Ext. 35254

Worthing Hospital 01903 205111 Ext. 86267

Information:

The information here is for guidance purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional clinical advice by a qualified practitioner.

Information:

This information is intended for patients at St Richards Hospital and Worthing Hospital.

Information:

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