Are blood clots hereditary?

what are they caused from?
Answer:
yes, blood clotting problems are hereditary. I have a clotting problem (they ran tests after my stroke and it was dxed as a genetic muttation). Other hereditary clotting problems ar F V Leiden, APS, etc. below are links to FV Leiden and a blood clotting support group I frequent. hope this helps.If you are really worried you might have one, go to your MD and ask for a script to have a doppler done on your ankle (it's a sonogram--perfectly painless) %26 it can tell you right away if you have a clot. good luck.

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yes i think so

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no

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By "blood clots", I assume you mean deep vein thomboses (DVTs)?
They can be...though most cases of DVT's are not. The largest risk for a DVT is immobility, such as being stuck in a hospital bed, a couch at home after surgery, or a long plane or car ride. This immobility means that blood does not get "pumped" though your legs very well (this pumping is facilitated by your calf muscles contracting) and thus blood sits and coagulates forming a clot...if this dislodges and goes to your lungs, it causes a pulmonary embolus (PE) which can be fatal.
Other major risks for DVTs are cancer and certain deep IV's that can be used in hospitals.
If you would like to know more about DVT's let me know.In followup to your description I'd suggest a few things.
One, was your grandfather diagnosed with a "hereditary" blood clotting problem, such examples are: factor V leiden mutations, prothrombin 20210, deficiencies of proteins C or S that help dissolve blood clots, or antithrombin III mutations? There are others, but these are the major ones...if any of these names ring a bell, it deserves futher investigation.
Second, your description of your ankle being swollen is not typical of a presentation for a DVT at risk of breaking off "embolizing"(the ones that you will ned to see a doctor about and will need to be treated). Classically we look for a WHOLE swollen leg (like up to the knee at least) as compared to your other leg. If you do have a clot, it would pose a risk for embolizing only if it extended into the thigh region...and thus I would expect swelling of your whole leg to your knees, not localized to your ankles.
Other things to consider in your case would be a skin infection (cellulitis) ankle trauma (sprain) or trauma to a bursa in that region. Needless to say, if your swelling continues to extend up your leg, or you develop symptoms of a PE- sudden difficulty breathing with chest pain or coughing up blood, see a physician right away.
Finally, if your "appendages" turn purple, try looking this up: "Reynaud's phenomina". see if it applies to you...and if it does, get a primary care physician and talk to them about it. Good luck!

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