special subjects
Problems Due to Bed Rest
Blood clots
A leg injury, leg surgery, or bed rest may prevent people from using their legs. When the legs are not being used, blood moves more slowly from the leg veins to the heart. Blood clots are more likely to form in this slow-moving blood. Blood clots in a leg ( Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) ) sometimes travel from the leg to the lungs and block a blood vessel there (called Pneumatic compression stockings may be used to help prevent blood clots. Powered by an electric pump, these stockings repeatedly squeeze the calves and move blood into and through the veins. People at high risk of developing blood clots may be given an anticoagulant (such asheparin), injected under the skin of the abdomen or arm. Sometimes an anticoagulant pill is given by mouth. Anticoagulants help keep blood from clotting and are sometimes called "blood thinners." Most hospitalized people are given an anticoagulant, injected under the skin, to prevent blood clots from forming in the legs and then possibly traveling to the lungs and blocking a blood vessel there. 