Introduction

Thrombosis (disorder),Thromboembolism of vein (disorder), Venous thromboembolic disease,thrombosis, blood clots,

Every year, thousands of people in the UK develop a blood clot in a vein. It's known as venous thromboembolism (VTE) and is a serious, potentially fatal, medical condition.

VTE is the collective name for:

Although serious, most blood clots can be completely avoided. The key is to be aware if you're at risk and take some simple preventative steps.

This articleis about blood clots in veins. If you want information on blood clots in arteries, which is a common cause of heart attack and stroke, see the topic on arterial thrombosis.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 29 Nov 2016