FACTOR FIVE LEIDEN: a autosomal dominant genetic inherited trait.

AUTOSOMAL: any non-sex determining chromosome.

DOMINANT: exerting a ruling or controlling influence.

GENETIC: pertaining to reproduction or to birth or origin-inherited.

PROTEIN: any of a group of organic nitrogenous, widely distributed in plants and animals.

HEREDITY: the genetic transmission of a particular quality or trait from parent to offspring.

HETEROZYGOUS: a person who has one copy of the FVL mutation or any gene mutation.

HOMOZYGOUS: a person who has two copies of the FVL mutation or any gene mutation.

THROMBOPHILIA: people who are at a increased risk for venous blood clot formation.

ACTIVATED PROTEIN C: a protein responsible for helping to alter or stop the formation of a clot. FVL is resistant to the action of protein C which therefore affects the anticoagulant function of Factor V.

RESISTANCE TO ACTIVATED PROTEIN C: FVL is the most common mutation which causes APC resistance and therefore increased risk of thrombosis.

PULMONARY EMBOLISM: a clot that goes to your lung making it difficult to breath.

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS: a clot that can be anywhere in your body. It can start in your leg, arm, lung or brain.

TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK: It's kind of like a small stroke although transient in nature.

ARTERY: carries blood rich in oxygen away from the heart to body tissues. Arterial clots can cause strokes or heart attacks.

VEIN: carries oxygen depleted blood back to the heart; blood clots in veins are called venous thrombus.

PROTHROMBIN 20210 MUTATION: the second most common clotting disorder. It is also an autosomal dominant disorder. It has elevated prothrombin levels which increases risk for thrombotic events.

ANTICOAGULANTS: blood thinning medications such as heparin, low molecular weight heparins (lovenox) and coumadin/warfarin. There are also natural anticoagulants such as ginger, garlic, onion, ginkgo, ginseng and purple grapes.

COAGULANTS: medications that can thicken the blood such as vitamin K. Foods high in vitamin K can also affect your coag factors, such as green leafy vegetables, green tea, avocados, broccoli.

CDC: center for disease control. Located in Atlanta, Georgia. Its a government health care agency focusing on the treatment and prevention or disease.

MESSENTERIC VEIN THROMBOSIS: a blood clot in the intestinal veins.

BUDD-CHIARI SYNDROME: a blood clot in the veins of the liver.