Every time you have a cut or bruise, your blood clots to help stop the bleeding, so you don't lose too much blood. These small clots help your body heal and usually aren't a problem. But when larger, unwanted clots form, they can be very dangerous.

These unwanted clots can break away from the wall of a blood vessel and travel to various parts of your body. The clot can partially or completely block the blood flow to one or more of your organs, eventually leading to serious damage or even death.

One kind of blood clot, called a "deep vein thrombosis," can form in the veins. These clots can migrate from your leg or pelvis to your lung where they may cause shortness of breath and other problems. When this happens, it's called a "pulmonary embolus." This may happen after many types of surgeries, but it rarely does. If this does happen, it's usually treated with blood-thinning medications and extra days in the hospital. In extreme cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the clot.

Clots can also cause damage to the brain. If a clot travels and gets stuck in the blood vessels of the brain, it can cause a stroke.

Your doctor will make every effort to minimize your chances of developing a serious clot. To help reduce your risk, be sure to let your doctor know if you've:

* Had problems with blood clots before

* And if you currently or recently used birth control pills or cigarettes.