Blood has to continuously flow throughout the body for an entire lifetime.  Blood Clots can be positive or negative, since they obstruct blood flow.  They can be lifesaving because they stop bleeding if there is an open wound or injury, preventing the person from losing more blood.  Alternatively, Blood Clots form when they aren't needed and can cause heart attacks, strokes, or other medical complications.  While Blood Clots are more common in adults, they can occur in children too. 

Blood can clot in multiple parts of the body, therefore different symptoms can occur.  Blood Clots occur in the veins and arteries, lungs, brain, or abdomen. The symptoms are separated in the categories below.

Blood Clots in the Veins or Arteries:

• Joint Pain
• Tenderness
• Sudden Pain
• Swelling
• Bluish Discoloration near Pain

Blood Clots in the Lungs:

• Rapid Heart Rate
• Sharp Chest Pain
• Coughing up Blood
• Mild Fever

Blood Clots in the Brain:

• Speech Impairment
• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Weakness

Blood Clots in Abdomen:

• Vomiting
• Sharp Abdominal Pain
• Diarrhea 

Blood Clots form when flowing blood comes in contact with substances in the skin or or blood vessel walls.  If cholesterol plaques, which form in the arteries, break open (often times the cause of heart attacks), blood clotting will occur.  If the blood doesn't flow properly, this can also cause it to clot.  When Blood Clots form, they can break away from the source and cause damage to other parts of the body.  Blood Clots can also be the result of surgeries or traumatic injuries.  Other causes include:

• High Blood Pressure
• Arteriosclerosis
• Family History of Blood Clots
• Heart Failure
• Obesity
• Stroke
• Heart Attack
• Bowel Disease like Crohn's Disease
• Infection

• Exercising and getting lots of vitamin D, i.e. sunshine, can help prevent Blood Clots from forming.  Vitamin D acts as a natural blood thinner and exercise keeps the blood flowing.  It's important to avoid sitting for long periods of time without any exercise as well.
• Water is also a natural blood thinner.  It's suggested to consume eight 8oz. glasses of water each day.  A great way to remember how much water to drink is to halve your body weight and drink it in ounces of water per day. This means that if you weigh 150lbs, your water intake should be 75oz. daily.  
• A healthy diet such as raw-food, vegan, or vegetarian can help prevent Blood Clots from occurring.  By avoiding processed foods, fried foods, meat, dairy, alcohol, tobacco, salt, sugar, and genetically modified foods, you can help facilitate proper blood flow.  Eating foods rich in vitamin E can help as well because they help prevent over-oxidation.  Broccoli, kale, chard, kiwi, broccoli, and red bell peppers are all good sources of vitamin E.  Adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet is also beneficial.  Flax seed, pumpkin seeds, or walnuts are great sources of these.
• If you are traveling by plain, it is important to get up and stretch to increase blood flow.  Sitting cross-legged is also not recommended as it can dam circulation and cause Blood Clots.  To help prevent Blood Clots, you can avoid wearing tight clothing items as they constrict blood flow. 

• Dark Leafy Greens (Kale, Chard, Spinach)
• Raw Walnuts, Flax Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds
• Kiwi
• Broccoli
• Red Bell Peppers
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries, Cranberries)
• Oranges
• Grapes