Risk factors

Your risk of thrombophlebitis increases if you:

• Are inactive for a prolonged period, either because you're confined to bed or you're traveling in a car or plane for a long period
• Have varicose veins, which are a common cause of superficial thrombophlebitis
• Have a pacemaker or have a thin, flexible tube (catheter) in a central vein, for treatment of a medical condition, which may irritate the blood vessel wall and decrease blood flow
• Are pregnant or have just given birth
• Use birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, which can make your blood more likely to clot
• Have a family history of a blood-clotting disorder or a tendency to form blood clots
• Have had previous episodes of thrombophlebitis
• Have had a stroke
• Are older than 60
• Are overweight or obese
• Have cancer
• Smoke

If you have one or more risk factors, discuss prevention strategies with your doctor before taking long flights or road trips or if you're planning to have elective surgery, recovery from which will require you not to move much.