World Thrombosis Day 2015: Join the Global Movement to Stop Blood Clots & Save Lives

WTD Logo (color cmyk) type English Oct 13

In just less than two weeks, the world will come together to celebrate World Thrombosis Day on October 13, 2015. World Thrombosis Day seeks to increase global awareness of thrombosis, including its causes, risk factors, signs, symptoms, evidence-based prevention and treatment; and ultimately strives to reduce death and disability caused by the disease.

What is World Thrombosis Day?

Founded in 2014, this is the second year for World Thrombosis Day (WTD) by the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) in response to requests for a focused global awareness day on thrombosis. Each year, the WTD campaign centers around a specific area of blood clot awareness that has the potential to greatly impact the community and through increasing knowledge, hopefully reduce the risk and associated deaths that occur each and every day because of blood clots. Each year, blood clots affect more people than AIDS, breast cancer, and automobile accidents combined. Blood clots clots can, and do, affect anyone – from the very young, to the elderly to professionals to athletes to women to men. In the U.S. alone, up to 900,000 people each year are affected by blood clots in their legs and 1 person dies every 6 minutes due to a blood clot. The statistics are staggering.  

What is VTE?

Venous thromboembolism or VTE is simply deep vein thrombosis (DVT) + pulmonary embolism (PE). A blood clot that forms in a deep vein (usually in the leg or arm) is a DVT and a blood clot in the lung is a PE, which occurs when a DVT breaks free from a vein wall, travels to the lungs and blocks some or all of the blood supply to the lungs. PE can be fatal due to this obstruction. DVT and PE together are called VTE.

Why does it matter?

The positive news is, blood clots and the deaths that result because of them, are preventable. This year, awareness will focus on hospital related deaths as a result of VTE (deep vein thrombosis + pulmonary embolism). Being in the hospital is a major risk factor for the development of VTE. Up to 60 percent of VTE cases occur during or after hospitalization, making it a leading cause of  preventable hospital death. Patients who are hospitalized are at an increased risk for developing blood clots because of decreased mobility due to bedrest or recovery; or who experience blood vessel trauma due to surgery or other serious injury. In the U.S. alone, more than 540,000 hospitalized patients develop VTE and the procedures with increased risk are:

  • Orthopedic surgery (e.g., total hip or knee surgery)
  • Major general surgery (especially involving the abdomen, pelvis, hip or legs)
  • Major gynecological surgery
  • Urological surgery
  • Neurosurgery
  • Cardiothoracic surgery
  • Major peripheral vascular surgery
  • Chemotherapy for cancer treatment

I did not realize how important it was to understand your risk in regards to hospitalization and VTE because I have only been in the hospital for a DVT and PE. I have never been hospitalized for any major surgeries or injuries. I currently have a family member who is in the hospital for major surgery combined with cancer treatment and I was fortunate enough to be present in the hospital room when blood clots were being discussed. Risk was assessed and my family member was prescribed twice daily injections of lovenox to prevent blood clots. Prior to the surgery, a filter was inserted to hopefully prevent any PE complications after the procedure. Seeing the pain my loved one is already going through because of the diagnosis, I suddenly realized why it is also important to consider blood clots. With all of the things to worry about in terms of diagnosis and longterm recovery, I feel relieved that the hospital has skillfully and thoroughly done the best it can to reduce the risk of blood clots. Because my blood clot happened so suddenly, it mattered to be to see a different side of treatment. Blood clots and the pain and distress caused by them, can be prevented.

What can you do to help?
  • Take the Pledge and share. If you or a loved one is going to be hospitalized due to major surgery, illness or injury, be prepared discuss your risk and preventative plan with your healthcare provider. Taking this pledge can help remind you to do so if you are ever in that situation. 
  • Get involved on social media. Share, chat, tweet (details about the official chat below), discuss and show your support. These tools, including badges, banners and headers, will help you do just that.  
  • Share your story. Are you a VTE or blood clot survivor? Take a selfie, fill out this printout and share across social media. Be sure to include the hashtag #WTDay15 and #StopDeadlyClots.
  • Involve your own community. Explore, download and distribute WTD posters and flyers to help raise awareness in your corner of the globe. Talk to your loved ones about their risk.
Where will I be?

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  • World Thrombosis Day Twitter Chat on 13 October at noon U.S. ET. Use the hashtag #ClotChat to participate in a discussion about hospital-associated VTE. Follow @thrombosisday and @ClotRecoveryNet on Twitter for details.
  • Exclusive social media and blog posting on October 13. Don’t mis it. 

There is hope for healing and you are not alone,

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Blood Clots in the News: 5th Edition

5th Edition Cover

Blood clots – Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or Pulmonary Embolism (PE) cause more than 100,000 deaths in the United States every year (per the National Blood Clot Alliance). These deaths include men, women and children — and sadly these numbers continue to grow. The good news is that many blood clot-caused deaths can be prevented.  The bad news is more awareness still needs to be raised about this often silent killer. With Blood Clot Awareness Month not far behind us, it seems like blood clots have been in the news much more recently, and for that I am grateful. I hope we can keep the momentum going as we continue talking about and raising awareness about this important and virtually unheard of public health concern.

Explore the links below for more Blood Clots in the News: 5th Edition

Meredith Vieira’s husband describes ‘touch and go’ health scare
Photo courtesy of  Today.com

Photo courtesy of Today.com

The husband of former TODAY anchor Meredith Vieira said doctors pulled him “back from the brink” over the weekend after treating him for a blood clot in his lungs.

In a blog post Tuesday titled “Crisis,” veteran news producer Richard Cohen described how a badly swollen foot and a series of tests led doctors to discover a large blood clot in his leg. Additional scans revealed a piece of the clot had broken off and “perched on a blood vessel close to my heart.” [Read More]

Study of Drug for Blood Clots Caused a Stir, Records Show

The makers of the blood-thinning drug Pradaxa were so worried that an internal research paper would damage drug sales that some employees not only pressured the author to revise it, but suggested it should be quashed altogether, according to newly unsealed legal documents.

The documents were made public last week by a federal judge in Illinois who is overseeing thousands of lawsuits filed by patients and their families, who say that Pradaxa’s manufacturer, the German company Boehringer Ingelheim, failed to properly warn them about the risks of taking the drug. [Read More]

Risk of Serious Blood Clots Extends to 12 Weeks After Childbirth Researchers Find Risk Lasts Twice as Long as Previously Thought

 Mothers remain at risk of developing a serious blood clot for 12 weeks after giving birth, rather than six weeks as previously thought, say a team of researchers in a study published online today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

While development of blood clots after childbirth is very uncommon, physicians should know that they can occur up to 12 weeks after delivery, and future studies are needed to see if some women will benefit from extended therapy to prevent such complications…[Read More]

Danger in the Ring

When 24-year-old Erika Langhart—talented, beautiful, bound for law school—died on Thanksgiving Day 2011, she became one of thousands of suspected victims of the birth-control device NuvaRing. Elite army athlete Megan Henry, who survived rampant blood clots in her 20s, is another. With major suits against NuvaRing’s manufacturer, Merck, headed for trial, Marie Brenner asks why, despite evidence of serious risk, a potentially lethal contraceptive remains on the market. [Read More]

Buffalo Grove grad found near ISU campus died from blood clot

A 20-year-old Buffalo Grove High School graduate found unresponsive Saturday in her apartment near Illinois State University died from a blood clot in her pulmonary artery, according to an autopsy…[Read More]

Share your story. Have you noticed blood clots in the news lately? Have you heard of any more stories not listed above?

There is hope for healing and you are not alone,

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Blood Clots in the News: 4th Edition

With the help of some well-known celebrity names, blood clots seem to have been in the news a lot lately. Most notably, NASCAR racing champion Brian Vickers announced his return to racing after suffering from blood clots that set him back for a season; and Real Housewives of Atlanta reality TV star NeNe Leakes opened up about her recent pulmonary embolism. I am so grateful to Brian and Ms. Leakes for speaking out about what happened to them and for raising awareness to countless people who may have never heard of a DVT or PE before now. Read more about their stories and the other lives that were either affected or sadly, lost as a result of this silent killer.

Here are this editions headlines:

Washington Township mother speaks out after daughter dies from pregnancy-related clotting disorder

danielle-ciccozzi-13e5200141c9bd63

A simple blood test. That’s all it would’ve taken to save Danielle Ciccozzi’s life. The 35-year-old mom of three died on Nov. 12, after suffering from a stroke, blood clots, two heart attacks and open heart surgery, all stemming from a clotting disorder triggered by pregnancy in March. [Read More]

US speedskater Bradford overcomes health scare

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Rebekah Bradford was a highly trained athlete. She couldn’t figure out why she was out of breath just walking up a flight of stairs. Turns out, she was suffering from a potentially life-threatening condition. Bradford was stricken with a pulmonary embolism last year, making her bid to reach the Olympics for a second time especially challenging. She is competing at the U.S. speedskating trials, which begin Friday in suburban Salt Lake City. [Read More]

Vicki Huber Rudawsky: Even fittest need to be alert for clots

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Often, a person will ignore signs or symptoms of a health issue until it is too late. Athletes tend to be the biggest offenders of this, mostly because we are used to aches and pains. Before we head off to the doctor, we try to self-diagnose, mostly because we don’t want to be told to take time off. One health danger that is not often talked about in athletes is deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. A DVT occurs when a blood cot forms in the veins of the extremities, usually the lower leg or thigh. [Read More]

Newlywed bride discovered she was pregnant two months after fit and healthy husband, 25, died from blood clot

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A grieving bride discovered she was pregnant two months after her new husband’s sudden death. Rhiannon Llewellyn was left devastated when sports coach Dale Llewellyn, 25, died from a blood clot last January just six months after they married.The 25-year-old had no idea she was pregnant on the day that she buried her childhood sweetheart at the same church that their wedding took place. [Read More]

Brian Vickers returns from blood clots, ready to race full schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing

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Brian Vickers says he’s off blood thinners and plans to run the entire Sprint Cup schedule this season, beginning with next month’s Daytona 500. The 30-year-old Vickers missed the final five races last season after doctors discovered a blood clot last October. He also missed the final 25 races of 2010 because of blood clots and heart surgery. [Read More]

 

Share your story. Have you noticed blood clots in the news lately? Have you heard of any more stories not listed above?

There is hope for healing and you are not alone,

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Blood Clots in the News: 3rd Edition

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I think it’s important to be aware of blood clots in the news. Here are some recent stories that have been circulating among regular media channels.

Austin Mahone Recovers After Blood Clot in Throat

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Source: rollingstone.com

Austin Mahone sent his millions of Twitter fans into a tizzy when he told them of a blood clot in his throat a few weeks ago, postponing his MTV Artist to Watch Tour. “I’ve never felt so bad,” the YouTube sensation-turned-teen heartthrob wrote on Instagram earlier this month from his hospital room. Now the singer’s health is improving. “I’m feeling a lot better than I did a week ago,” he tells Rolling Stone. “Still not feeling 100 percent, but trying to get better.” [Read more]

Heavyweight Abdusalamov stable after blood clot removed from brain

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Source: sports.yahoo.com

Russian heavyweight boxer Magomed Abdusalamov is in Roosevelt Hospital in New York in stable condition in intensive care following surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain suffered in a bout Saturday with Mike Perez at Madison Square Garden. The bout was the HBO debut for both men and was an entertaining, but rugged scrap. Abdusalamov, 32, also incurred a broken nose and a broken left hand during the unanimous decision loss to Perez. Nathan Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing, Abdusalamov’s promoter, told Yahoo Sports that doctors removed a small portion of Abdusalamov’s skull in an effort to reduce swelling on the brain. [Read more]

Outrun Danger: Why Fit Women Get Blood Clots

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Source: fitnessmagazine.com

You can be this fit and still suffer from the health threat that affects almost a quarter million women. Here, the must-know facts about what could be lurking in your veins and how to protect yourself. Jenny Fletcher should have been at the top of her game. In the fall of 2012 the triathlete and former model had scored her first victory in a half-Ironman, just three years after turning pro. But seven months later, in April 2013, she found herself struggling to cross the finish line at an all-woman half-marathon in New York City. “After the race I was nauseous and had to sit down,” Jenny, 37, says. “I ended up back in my hotel room, sleeping all day.” [Read more]

Jets’ Postma ‘in shock’ after blood clot diagnosis, out indefinitely

paulpostma

Source: /prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Paul Postma spoke to the media on Monday about the blood clot in his calf that will sideline him for a few months. “It really startled me. I was in shock,” Postma explained. “I still can’t really believe it happened. You don’t hear about [blood clots] too often.“I guess it’s just a different situation, and I’ll take it day-by-day.” The 24-year-old blueliner, who’s appeared in eight games this season, said he felt something wrong in his leg following Saturday’s 2-1 win over Dallas, a game in which he played 15:10. The issue got worse after the team flew into Colorado, and Postma didn’t play in Sunday’s loss to the Avalanche. [Read more]

 

NeNe Leakes hospitalized with blood clots in her lung

VH1 Divas 2012 held at The Shrine Auditorium - Arrivals

Source: latimes.com

NeNe Leakes had a health scare, yes, but it wasn’t a heart attack, the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star said Tuesday. “My arms are hurting wit these IV’s #blessedtobealive,” the reality TV star and actress tweeted Monday with a photo of her arms laden with tubing and tape. On Tuesday, the 45-year-old clarified the situation with a post on her official website. “Late last week I wasn’t feeling well and was feeling a little short of breath. I know my body and I know when I should be concerned so I went to the hospital to get checked out,” Leakes wrote. After some routine tests, she said, she was diagnosed with blood clots in her lung. “I’m told this happened to me because of the constant traveling around the country that I do for my job.” [Read more]

Share your story. Have you noticed blood clots in the news lately? Have you heard of any more stories not listed above?

There is hope for healing and you are not alone,

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Blood Clots in the News: 2nd Edition

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I feel like blood clots have been in the news a lot lately. Maybe I notice it more, of course, but I still feel like I am seeing more about blood clots in recent months than I have previously. While I am grateful word is getting out about this potential killer, I am deeply saddened by the lives lost and altered due to deaths resulting from blood clots and their effects.  From high school athletes to young mothers to professional race car drivers, blood clots are definitely making their mark in the news as of late.

 

Paul Robinson: Blood clot could have killed me… it left my so unfit I couldn’t even keep up with my 92-year-old nan!

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has revealed that he was so unfit after suffering a potentially fatal blood clot on his lung that he couldn’t keep up with his 92-year-old granny. Robinson has returned to training with Blackburn more than six months after the clot was discovered on Easter Monday in March following back surgery. The 33-year-old explained the symptoms to Blackburn’s club doctor Duncan Robertson over the phone and was told to go to hospital for urgent treatment. [Read more]

 

Doctor ‘negligent’ over DVT death of Jacqueline Allwood

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk

Jacqueline Allwood, 47, died 10 days later after a blood clot travelled from her leg to her lung. Dr Saurabh Adlakha knew of the family history of deep vein thrombosis, Southwark Coroner’s Court heard. Recording a narrative verdict, medical negligence by Dr Adlakha contributed to her death, said coroner Andrew Harris. The inquest was told Dr Adlakha suggested Ms Allwood had probably suffered a sprained calf picking up Christmas decorations in December of 2012. After limping into the Beckenham Beacon Urgent Care Centre she was told to take some ibuprofen, rest, use ice and stretch the muscle and to wear more comfortable shoes. [Read more]

 

SHHS Football Player Dies from Injuries Sustained During Game

Source: http://www.wboy.com

Source: http://www.wboy.com

South Harrison High School football player Dylan Jeffries passed away Sunday night, according to a Facebook page created to update the community on his condition. Jeffries was injured during a football game Friday, Sept. 27 and rushed to Ruby Memorial Hospital with a blood clot on his brain. He was placed under a medically induced coma a few days later. [Read More]

 

Catfish’s Michael Fortunato Dead At 26

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Source: http://www.mtv.com

A subject of MTV’s “Catfish” series, Michael Fortunato, died in Hartford, Connecticut, Saturday from a pulmonary embolism, MTV News has learned. The 26-year-old New Jersey native starred in the “Ashley and Mike” episode from season two, which followed he and 20-year-old Ashley Sawyer as they met for the first time after being in a seven-year online relationship. An autopsy has yet to be released, but Mike’s younger sister, Gena, confirmed the death to MTV News Monday night. A spokesperson for the Farmington, Connecticut, chief medical examiner’s office told MTV News that Fortunato died at Hartford Hospital as a result of a pulmonary embolism due to deep vein thrombosis. [Read More]

 

Brian Vickers has blood clot, will miss rest of season

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Source: http://www.usatoday.com

Brian Vickers will miss the rest of the 2013 Sprint Cup season after being placed on blood thinners for a blood clot in his right calf. Michael Waltrip Racing announced Monday that Vickers said Dr. William Downey put the driver of the No. 55 Toyota on the medication after finding the small clot in a Monday morning examination. Vickers, who missed the final 25 races of the 2010 season while recovering from blood clots and heart surgery to repair a hole between his atria, said doctors are confident he will be able to resume activity before the 2014 season. [Read more]

And, in case you didn’t know…

Theodore Roosevelt Dies

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On Jan. 6, 1919, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, died in his sleep at his home in Oyster Bay, N.Y. He was60. The New York Times reported that, though Mr. Roosevelt had had inflammatory rheumatism, his death “took by surprise his physicians.” The immediate cause of death was listed as “a clot of blood which detached itself from a vein and entered the lungs.” [Read more]

Share your story. Have you noticed blood clots in the news lately? Have you heard of any more stories not listed above? Did you know about Mr. Roosevelt? Share in the comments!

There is hope for healing and you are not alone,

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Blood Clots in the News

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As I browse the news headlines from day to day, I am often discouraged at what I perceive to be lack of coverage of blood clots and their potential to kill. Headlines are riddled with people battling cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes – and not that those things aren’t important too – but, I feel like not enough attention is brought to blood clots. We are regularly schooled on what symptoms of heart attacks and strokes are, but not blood clots. There are fundraisers, races, walks, charity events and endless support for breast cancer and heart disease survivors, but not blood clots. And, the reality of it is, blood clots are a leading killer – DVT occurs in about 2 million Americans each year, and up to 600,000 people are hospitalized in the United States each year for DVT and its primary complication, PE.An estimated 300,000 first-time cases of DVT occur in the United States every year.More people die in the United States from PE than from breast cancer and AIDS combined (http://preventdvt.org).

When incidences of blood clots in the news do appear, it is sadly because someone passed away or because a famous person was injured. While I am glad we are spreading the news – I don’t always feel like we are spreading the awareness until it is too late, as in the case of death. Many cases of blood clots are completely treatable and death is preventable if we know the signs and symptoms and seek medical attention before it is too late. I did not, and it almost cost me my life.

Whether I notice it more or not since I suffered from a PE in 2012, I feel that once a celebrity is affected by a blood clot, it makes news for a day or two and then blood clots are once again overshadowed by other diseases, ailments and tragedies.  The truth is, though, word is getting out. Each time someone suffers from a blood clot and it is reported, a small piece of information also gets out; whether it be a sign, symptom, statistic or warning. Little by little and bit by bit, the word is getting out. I am, however, saddened that many have and will pass away or have their lives radically altered by a blood clot.

Here are some of the recent headlines, in case you haven’t read them yet-

 

hillary blood clot

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was treated with blood thinners on Monday at a New York hospital to help dissolve a blood clot in her head and doctors were confident she would make a full recovery. The clot was located in the vein between the brain and and the skull behind Clinton’s right ear and did not result in any stroke or neurological damage, her doctors said in a statement. Clinton was treated with blood thinners to help dissolve the clot and would be released once the medication dose had been established, they said. – CNN.com January 2013

 

tollman blood clot

The fashion world is shocked by the sudden death of the celebrity stylist and former fashion editor, Annabel Tollman who suddenly in her sleep at 36. The British stylist lived and worked in NYC, where she was best known for her affinity for old-Hollywood glamour and for dressing celebrity clients. – HollywoodLife.com June 2013

 

mumford blood clot headline

Mumford & Sons bassist Ted Dwane is at home recovering after having brain surgery. The 28-year-old musician had emergency surgery last week after a scan revealed a blood clot on the surface of his brain, but he is now convalescing and has thanked fans for their messages of support. – CTVNews.ca June 2013

 

farina blood clot

Dennis Farina, a former Chicago cop turned actor, died suddenly this morning in Scottsdale, Ariz., from a blood clot in his lung, ABC News has confirmed. He was 69. – abcnews.go.com July 2013

stephanie blood clot

Taken into emergency theatre, she never imagined her sudden chest pains and difficulty breathing were sparked by a near-fatal pulmonary embolism or PE. But it was when surgeons operated they found five others in her lungs – the biggest 9cm long – they knew just how close to dying she had come. Now 28 and on medication, the mother-of-one wants to warn other young Australians about the deadly condition which affects one in 1000 Australians, and kills one in ten within a month of diagnosis. – HeraldSun.com July 2013

Share your story. Do you feel like blood clots are not given enough attention by the media? Have you heard of any more stories not listed above? Share in the comments!

There is hope for healing and you are not alone,

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