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Thousands of people die every year from blood clots - people who didn't even know they were at risk. Factor five leiden is a genetic disorder that leads to an increased tendency to form blood clots.

According to Dr. Pamela Zimmerman with the WVU School of Medicine, "If you have a family history of blood clots, or if you have a family history of factor five leiden then you are also at risk to develop a factor five leiden mutation."

If you have factor five leiden, you could develop a deep vein thrombsosis or "DVT." a DVT is a blood clot that forms in the deep veins in the legs.

Dr. Pamela Zimmerman with the WVU School of Medicine says,"They can develop a dvt which could potentially be fatal if it were to break off and go to your lungs. Also if one was going to have an operation, they could have complications because of a clotting disorder that could occur anytime they're undergoing a procedure. And finally if a woman would be pregnant, it is important that she would know if she would have a clotting disorder because of the possibility of miscarriages, high blood pressure, abruption of the placenta."

Here are the indicators you may have factor five lieden:

-developing a deep vein thrombsosis.

-a clot forming closer to the surface of your skin.

-a clot that travels to your lungs.

Dr. Pamela Zimmerman with the WVU School of Medicine says,"If you have a family history of blood clots, factor five, or you yourself have had blood clots with unknown cause, then you should be tested. The testing is simple blood test."

As for treatment, if you have factor 5 leiden and develop a blood clot, doctors generally prescribe blood thinners .