March 5, 2010
March is National DVT Awareness Month
St. Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville has joined a national effort to help raise awareness of Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and its potentially fatal complication, pulmonary embolism (PE). March is DVT Awareness Month and Tuesday, March 9 is National DVT Risk Screening Day.
DVT is a public health threat that affects up to two million Americans each year. Its primary complication, pulmonary embolism, claims approximately 300,000 lives annually — more than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Many people have little or no knowledge of this condition or how to recognize its signs and symptoms.
DVT occurs when a thrombus (blood clot) forms in one of the large veins, usually in the lower limbs, leading to either partially or completely blocked circulation. Left untreated, this clot has the potential to move into the lungs and block circulation to this vital organ, creating a life-threatening condition — a pulmonary embolism — requiring immediate medical attention.
While the risk can be reduced, approximately 600,000 Ameri-cans are hospitalized each year for DVT and PE. DVT-related PE is the most common cause of preventable hospital death.
Certain individuals may be at increased risk for developing DVT; however, it can occur in almost anyone. Additional risk factors include, but are not limited to:
- Restricted mobility due to acute illness
- Cancer
- Congestive heart failure or respiratory failure
- Recent surgery
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Age over 40 years
- Prior or family history of DVT/PE
Consult your healthcare provider about the signs and symptoms associated with DVT. For more information, visit www.preventdvt.org.