Blood clots serve a vital purpose as they control bleeding in our bodies, but they can be life threatening if not urgently treated.
Clots that form in the body when they're not needed can lead to heart attack and stroke. Their severity depends on where they form in the body and move - for example, ischemic stroke happens when blood clots block the flow of oxygen to the brain and kill cells.
There are everyday factors that can increase your chance of developing blood clots. According to the NHS, staying in or recently left hospital, smoking, and being overweight mean you are more likely to get them.
