Speaking of Blood Clots: Lifestyle Habits with Survivor Val Conley
Move Beyond the 'Unprovoked' Diagnosis with Lifestyle and Partnered Care.
Why Lifestyle Matters After Blood Clots
Why Lifestyle Matters After Blood Clots
Blood clots are often treated as a single event.
- Something that happened.
- Something that was treated.
- Something to monitor.
But blood clots (venous thromboembolism, or VTE) are part of a much larger cardiovascular story.
The American Heart Association identifies cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in women.
VTE is the third most common cardiovascular event after heart attack and stroke.
The American Heart Association
That framing shifts the lens.
When clots are viewed only as isolated events, conversations tend to center on medications, procedures, and short-term recurrence risk.
Those are critical pieces.
They are not the whole picture.
When we zoom out, something becomes clear:
We already have decades of science on what supports cardiovascular health.
And those foundations are exactly why we focus on them here.
Whole-Food Living
Cardiovascular research consistently supports dietary patterns built around minimally processed, predominantly plant-based foods.
Whether someone includes lean animal proteins consistent with AHA guidance or chooses fully plant-based nutrition, the core principles are remarkably similar:
- Fiber-rich plants.
- Healthy fats.
- Metabolic stability.
- Reduced ultra-processed foods.
This isn’t about diet culture.
It’s about vascular health.
Movement & Rest
Sedentary behavior is a recognized cardiovascular and clotting risk factor.
Purposeful movement supports circulation, metabolic health, and long-term function. This includes:
- Walking and mobility work.
- Structured exercise.
- Strength training.
But so does recovery.
For blood clot survivors, “recovery” may mean rebuilding after a pulmonary embolism. It may mean managing post-thrombotic syndrome. It may mean lifelong anticoagulation and learning how to train safely.
And it always includes sleep.
Rest is not laziness. It is physiology.
Mindset & Management
Chronic stress physiology influences blood pressure, metabolic function, and long-term cardiovascular health. Persistent, low-grade inflammation — not normal protective inflammation — is part of that picture.
But mindset after a clot matters too. This is about how a survivor views limitations, including:
- Living with Post-Thrombotic Syndrome.
- Managing chronic symptoms.
- Being a “lifer” on blood thinners.
How she views these challenges shapes how she adapts and moves forward.
Resilience isn’t denial. It’s adaptive management.
Community & Support
Knowledge alone does not create change. Execution requires structure. To turn intention into action, we use practical tools like:
- SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
- Aligned community and peer support.
- Clinician collaboration.
Building the right support ecosystem matters. Not every provider is trained in lifestyle counseling, and not every patient-provider relationship is the right fit.
Sometimes the connection between clot care and cardiovascular health gets lost across specialties:
- Hematology focuses on anticoagulation.
- Primary Care focuses on blood pressure and glucose.
- Gynecology focuses on hormones.
Each is essential. But no single appointment integrates all of it.
Helping women see the whole map and navigate it with clarity is why these conversations matter.
Especially in Midlife and Beyond
Menopause adds another layer.
Hormone therapy can be appropriate and effective for many women. Some blood clot survivors may consider it with careful evaluation and shared decision-making — sometimes including hematology input.
Others — particularly those with recurrent thrombosis (clots) or known thrombophilia (a tendency to clot) — may decide their personal risk tolerance is low.
Both decisions deserve respect and support.
Organizations such as The Menopause Society emphasize individualized assessment. Many hormone therapy trials exclude women with prior thrombosis, meaning recurrence data are more limited.
Formulation and route of administration matter — but “lower risk” does not automatically mean “no risk” for blood clot survivors.
That doesn’t make hormone therapy wrong. It makes context essential.
Lifestyle is not a replacement for medical care. It is the common denominator — whether you use hormone therapy, anticoagulation, both, or neither.
Context matters in science communication, especially for high-risk women.
Val Conley | Blood Clot Survivor & Founder of Speaking of Blood Clots
For blood clot survivors navigating anticoagulation, menopause, aging, and long-term cardiovascular health, lifestyle becomes foundational.
Not because it fixes everything.
But because it shapes the internal environment in which everything else operates.