Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts' diagnosis of blood clots in both lungs has put blood thinners in the spotlight.
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diagnosis → put → spotlight
Hurts is receiving treatment with the medication and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season, according to the NFL.
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Hurts → receive → NFL
Even young, physically active people can develop dangerous blood clots, especially when risk factors such as an injury, long travel or recent surgery combine.
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factors → develop → injury
"Being in shape lowers your risk, but it doesn’t make you immune," said Dr. Joseph V. Lombardi, chief physician executive at AtlantiCare.
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Lombardi → lower → AtlantiCare
Hurts’ case also highlights the precautions patients taking blood thinners may need to follow.
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patients → highlight → thinners
The medication can help prevent dangerous clots from growing or forming but can also make it harder for the body to stop bleeding after an injury — a concern for athletes playing high-contact sports or anyone who falls or gets hurt.
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who → help → sports
"Taking [blood thinners] consistently, understanding potential interactions, and recognizing warning signs can greatly reduce the risk of complications," Dr. Yazan Abou-Ismail, a hematologist and thrombosis expert at the University of Utah, told Fox News Digital.
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Ismail → take → Digital
Here are five mistakes patients should avoid:
1. Stopping treatment without medical guidance
While some patients only need blood thinners for a limited time, others may need them long term.
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need → avoid → them
When a clot has a clear cause, such as an injury, treatment often lasts about three months, Lombardi told Fox News Digital.
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Lombardi → have → Digital
The duration depends on factors including the reason for treatment and whether a patient has had previous clots, Abou-Ismail added.
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Ismail → depend → clots
Stopping too soon can raise the risk of another clot, while continuing longer than prescribed may increase bleeding risk.
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continuing → stop → risk
Patients should not stop or extend treatment without speaking with their doctor.
2.
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Patients → stop → doctor
Skipping or doubling doses
Missing doses repeatedly can weaken a medication's protection against clots, Abou-Ismail said, but what to do after a missed dose depends on the specific drug.
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do → skip → drug
Patients should follow the instructions for the prescription or call their pharmacist or doctor — not automatically take an extra dose to make up for a missed one.
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Patients → follow → one
Adding medications or supplements without checking
Aspirin and NSAIDs including ibuprofen can increase bleeding risk when taken with blood thinners, Abou-Ismail said.
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Ismail → add → thinners
Some prescription drugs and supplements, including fish oil and turmeric, can also affect bleeding or medication levels.
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drugs → include → levels
Patients should ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking anything new, even if it is sold over the counter.
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it → ask → counter
4. Brushing off signs of serious bleeding
Some bruising or minor bleeding may occur but persistent nosebleeds, blood in the urine or unexplained increases in bruising warrant a call to a health care provider, Abou-Ismail said.
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Ismail → brush → provider
Uncontrolled bleeding, vomiting blood, black or tarry stools, a sudden severe headache or new confusion, vision changes or trouble speaking require urgent care.
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bleeding → vomit → care
After a significant head injury, patients should seek medical evaluation, even if they initially feel fine, experts note.
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experts → seek → evaluation
5. Taking part in high-risk activities
A hard hit or fall can lead to serious bleeding in patients taking a blood thinner, which is why Hurts cannot play football during treatment.
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Hurts → take → treatment
Patients should ask their doctor which activities are safe for them.
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activities → ask → them
Some may be able to continue exercising but contact sports and other activities with a high risk of injury warrant extra caution.
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sports → continue → caution
Blood thinners do not dissolve an existing clot, Lombardi cautioned.
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Lombardi → dissolve → clot
They help prevent it from growing while the body clears it over time.
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body → help → time
The right treatment and precautions vary, so patients should contact their care team with questions about doses, side effects or activity.
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patients → vary → doses
The Aporia
