Every Five Minutes Someone Dies from a Blood Clot

Educating Women and their families about the Dangers of Blood Clots or Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Can Save Lives. March is DVT Month.

LAKEWOOD, Col., March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Each year between 100,000-180,000 Americans die as the result of pulmonary embolism, a complication from blood clots in the lungs. The Vascular Disease Foundation urges Americans, especially women, to learn about the risks of venous blood clots to help prevent these deaths. While men and women are at equal risk, the risk for deep vein thrombosis, or blood clots, varies depending on where a woman is in her lifecycle, her hormone levels, and if she has a family history of clotting disorders.

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DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in the deep veins, usually of the pelvis or leg. DVT can be dangerous in two ways. First, DVT can be fatal if a blood clot breaks free from the leg veins and travels through the heart and lodges in the lung arteries. This complication, called pulmonary embolism (PE), causes between 100,000 and 180,000 deaths per year in the United States. Second, because blood clots can permanently damage the veins, as many as half of DVT survivors can experience long-term leg pain, heaviness and swelling that can progress to difficulty in walking, changes in skin color and open leg sores (known as ulcers). This condition, called post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) or "chronic venous insufficiency," can significantly impair quality of life.

Certain individuals may be at greater risk for developing DVT, but it can occur in almost anyone. Risk factors or triggering events that are more likely to affect women include pregnancy and the six to eight weeks after giving birth, the use of birth control pills or postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy, cancer and its treatment, and major surgery.

Anyone may be at risk for DVT but the more risk factors you have, the greater your chances are of developing it. Knowing your risk factors gives you the chance to do something about it:

• Hospitalization for a medical illness or any illness
• Recent major surgery (especially orthopedic surgery) or injury or trauma
• Personal history of a clotting disorder or previous DVT
• Increasing age
• Cancer and their treatments
• Family history of DVT
• Extended bed rest
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Prolonged sitting when traveling (longer than 6 to 8 hours)

DVT and PE should be considered emergencies that require immediate care if any of the following symptoms are present:

Symptoms of Possible DVT:

Recent swelling of one leg

Unexplained pain or tenderness of one leg

Change in skin color or skin is hot to the touch

Symptoms of Possible PE:

Recent or sudden shortness of breath

Sharp chest pain, especially when breathing in

Coughing up blood or sudden collapse

"Every year, more people die from preventable blood clots than from breast cancer, AIDS and traffic accidents combined," said Dr. Samuel Goldhaber, Chairman of the Venous Disease Coalition. "It is so important to raise awareness about DVT and PE because although blood clots are common, few Americans have sufficient knowledge about blood clots and how to prevent them."

For more information about DVT, its risk factors, signs and symptoms or to take a free risk assessment quiz, visit www.vdf.org

The Vascular Disease Foundation has experts available for interview on DVT.

About the Vascular Disease Foundation

The Vascular Disease Foundation is a national, nonprofit, public education organization dedicated to fighting vascular disease and improving the vascular health of Americans by increasing awareness of the prevention, diagnosis, and management of vascular disease. It has been a leader in disease awareness and advocacy through its Peripheral Arterial Disease Coalition and Venous Disease Coalition. For more information, visit www.vdf.org or call 888.VDF.4INFO (888.833.4463).

SOURCE Vascular Disease Foundation