Stopping smoking

Needless to say, smoking is even more dangerous if you have APS because it causes cardiovascular disease. Smoking accelerates the hardening and narrowing of your arteries which means that you are two to four times more likely to develop a blood clot.

Blood clots in the heart (coronary thrombosis) can lead to a heart attack and around 30% are caused by smoking, while blood clots in the brain can lead to strokes. Smokers tend to develop coronary thrombosis ten years earlier than non-smokers.

By stopping smoking, you are removing another risk factor for the possibility of developing a blood clot.

It is also important to note that, if you are taking warfarin, toxins from cigarettes and tobacco can cause your liver to work overtime to try to remove them and, in turn, this absorbs more of your warfarin (since this is processed by your liver) and therefore can result in a lower INR. So when you do decide to stop, it is important to monitor your INR for the first few weeks of smoking cessation.

If you need help with quitting smoking, the NHS provide many resources with their online Better Health service.

Life insurance

While travel insurance may cover individuals with APS, obtaining life insurance with an APS diagnosis can prove challenging.

Providers may automatically reject an application for a pre-existing condition such as APS, and other policies may be unaffordable…

Women's health

Women who are taking antithrombotics such as aspirin, warfarin or especially DOACs may experience problems with increased bleeding.

Heavy blood loss can be extremely inconvenient and uncomfortable, and it can also cause iron deficiency anaemia…

Driving

Many APS patients are concerned about their safety to drive and whether they need to declare their condition to the DVLA.

Despite the DVLA listing a vast number of health conditions that you have to declare, antiphospholipid syndrome is not included…

Medication

The type of medication you can take to treat other conditions will depend on the type of treatment you are prescribed for APS.

You must let your GP/pharmacist know if you buy any over-the-counter medicines to check for contraindications…

Diet

Anyone with APS is advised to eat a healthy balanced diet of good carbohydrates, protein, low-fat dairy products and fruit and vegetables.

Maintaining a healthy weight is important both in terms of reducing cardiovascular risks and easing pressure on your bones and joints…

Exercise

There are no specific guidelines for people with APS, as the level of exercise you are capable of will depend on how your symptoms affect you.

Many people with APS lead extremely active lives and continue playing sports, while others are much more restricted…

Coping with fatigue

Most patients with APS will find they suffer from fatigue at some point. Fortunately, the fatigue does not tend to be constant and many people find they have good and bad days.

Fatigue is characterised by a lack of energy and motivation…

Managing memory problems

Many people with APS will have some degree of memory loss and difficulty in thinking clearly; the sensation has been described as ‘brain fog’.

Memory loss can range from mild, such as difficulty finding words and absent-minded forgetfulness, to severe…

Dealing with stress

Living with APS can be mentally and physically challenging, with potential psychological consequences.

The condition’s unpredictable nature and serious complications can leave you feeling shocked, angry, depressed, and frustrated…

Air travel

Air travel is closely associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), particularly long-haul flights.

The number of people who get DVT from air travel is difficult to determine, simply because the condition can be symptomless and may not occur for some time after travel…

Patient stories

We are thankful to all the APS patients who have bravely shared their stories with us, to help raise awareness and to show others that they are not alone.

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Diagnosis and treatment

APS is usually diagnosed from a combination of a positive blood test and symptoms. If you are under 50 and have suffered a thrombosis, or have had more than one pregnancy loss, you should discuss with your doctor whether you need blood tests.

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Related conditions

Some people with APS will also have other autoimmune conditions, as may their family members. APS has been linked with many other autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and Sjögren’s syndrome.

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Newly diagnosed

Receiving a new diagnosis of APS can be frightening, and no doubt you will want to know exactly what APS is. Following this, you will likely have a great many more questions to ask about the condition and how it can affect you. We are here to help!

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About us

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Our mission is to achieve earlier diagnosis and offer support to anyone affected by antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) through awareness, education and research.

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