1. 2007 Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Awareness Program
Know Your Risk

2. DVT Blood Clots: A Potentially Fatal Health Problem
1/Gerotziafas.Curr Opin Pulm Med.2004/
P356/C2/Line11
1/Gerotziafas.Curr
Opin Pulm Med.2004/
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P356/C2/Lines 4,5
2/Heit.ASH Meeting.
2005/P1/table
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Up to 2 million people in the United States suffer from DVT blood clots every year1
Approximately 600,000 experience pulmonary embolism (PE)1
In the US, complications from DVT blood clots kill almost 300,000 people a year — more than AIDS and breast cancer combined1,2
Some causes of death in the US
Annual number of deaths PE
Almost 300,0002
AIDS
13,5443
Breast cancer
41,5663
Gerotziafas and Samama. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2004;10:
Heit et al, on behalf of the VTE Impact Assessment Group. Poster #68. Presented at: 47th Annual Meeting and Exposition, American Society of Hematology; December 10-13, 2005; Atlanta, Ga.
Thom et al. Circulation. 2006;113:

3. What Is DVT? DVT is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body
Most often occurs in the deep veins of the legs, either above the knee or below it
The blood clot or part of it may break free (called an emboli) and become lodged in the blood vessels of the lung, causing PE

4. Talk to Your Doctor
It is important to share your concerns about DVT blood clots with your doctor
Ask questions and be prepared to provide accurate information about your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, and medications, including over-the-counter drugs
If your mobility is restricted due to illness or surgery, or if you have ever had a blood clot, you should talk to your doctor about preventing DVT

5. Some Risk Factors for DVT
Some of the risk factors that may increase your risk of DVT are4,5:
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Age 40 years or older
Being overweight
A personal or family history of blood clots
Birth control pills
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Cancer
Certain heart problems
Respiratory failure
Varicose veins
Pregnancy
Surgery, especially hip, knee, or abdominal surgery
Currently have restricted mobility due to a long illness or surgery
The more risk factors you have, the greater
your chances of developing DVT
4. Caprini and Arcelus. Scope Phlebol Lymphol. 2001;8:
5. American Public Health Association. Presented at: Public Health Leadership Conference on Deep-Vein Thrombosis: February 26, 2003: Washington, DC.

6. Symptoms of DVT and PE
The majority of people with DVT do not have symptoms6
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DVT 5,7
Swelling of the leg
Pain or tenderness in the leg; the pain is usually in 1 leg and may only be present when standing or walking
Leg feels warm to the touch
Red or discolored skin
PE5,7
Unexplained shortness of breath
Chest pain or palpitations
Anxiety and/or sweating
Coughing up blood
Fatigue and/or fainting
5. American Public Health Association. Presented at: Public Health Leadership Conference on Deep-Vein Thrombosis: February 26, 2003: Washington, DC.
6. Geerts et al. Chest. 2001;119(suppl):132S-175S.
7. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Available at: Accessed September 11, 2006.

7. Diagnosing DVT
Diagnosis begins by confirming that you have risk factors for DVT
Your doctor will ask about your general health, previous illnesses, including past episodes of DVT, the medicines you are taking, and your recent activities
He or she will conduct a physical examination
If DVT is suspected, additional tests will be needed to confirm the diagnosis

8. Treating DVT Treatment of DVT can help reduce complications such as PE
The main goals in treating DVT are to:
Stop the clot from getting larger
Reduce the chance of developing another clot
Reduce the risk of the clot breaking off in your vein and moving to your lungs

9. Treating DVT Drugs6 Practical measures8
Anticoagulants (blood thinners)
Thrombolytic agents (drugs used to dissolve blood clots)
Aspirin (treatment with aspirin alone may not be an effective form of prophylaxis)
Practical measures8
Elevate the affected leg whenever possible
Apply heat to relieve pain and reduce swelling
Wear compression bandages or support hose
Avoid long periods of immobility
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8/Ramzi.Am Fam Phys.2004/P2841/ A10;P2843/C1/L21
6. Geerts et al. Chest. 2001;119(suppl):132S-175S.
8. Ramzi and Leeper. Am Fam Physician. 2004;69(12):

10. Protecting Against DVT
If you are planning surgery or an extended hospital stay, ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk of DVT
Get out of bed and move around as soon as possible
Take medicines to reduce the risk of DVT blood clots after illness or surgery as directed by your doctor

11. Summary DVT is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body
The clot or part of it may break off and travel to the lung
Certain conditions may increase your risk for deep vein clots
The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chances may be of developing DVT
Anyone experiencing any DVT or PE symptoms should call for assistance and go to a hospital immediately

12. Share your concerns about DVT with your doctor
Summary
If your mobility is restricted for an extended period of time due to illness, surgery, or hospitalization, ask your doctor about protective treatment
Only about half of the people with deep vein clots have symptoms
The main goals in treating DVT are to stop the clot from getting larger, to decrease your chance of having another clot, and to reduce the risk of a clot breaking off in your vein and moving to your lungs
Medicines are used to treat and/or help reduce the risk of DVT
Share your concerns about DVT with your doctor

13. Remember…
DVT doesn't have to happen to you — you and your doctor can protect against them
If you develop a DVT blood clot, it can be treated
Knowing your risks for DVT blood clots is the first step in protecting against them

14. For Additional Information on DVT:
Visit:
American Heart Association (AHA)
American Obesity Association (AOA)
Coalition to Prevent DVT
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
DVT.NET

15. References:
1. Gerotziafas GT, Samama MM. Prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in medical patients. Curr Opin
Pulm Med. 2004;10:
2. Heit JA, Cohen AT, Anderson FA, et al, on behalf of the VTE Impact Assessment Group. Estimated annual
number of incident and recurrent, non-fatal and fatal venous thromboembolism (VTE) events in the US. Poster
#68. Presented at: 47th Annual Meeting and Exposition, American Society of Hematology; December 10-13,
2005; Atlanta, Ga.
3. Thom T, Haase N, Rosamond W, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics–2006 Update: a report from the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Circulation. 2006;113:
4. Caprini JA, Arcelus JI. State-of-the-art venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. Scope Phlebol Lymphol.
2001;8:
5. American Public Health Association. Deep-vein thrombosis: advancing awareness to protect patient lives. Presented at: Public Health Leadership Conference on Deep-Vein Thrombosis: February 26, 2003: Washington, DC.
6. Geerts WH, Heit JA, Clagett GP, et al. Prevention of venous thromboembolism: Sixth ACCP Consensus Conference on Antithrombotic Therapy. Chest. 2001;119(suppl)132S-175S.
7. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Diseases and conditions index. Available at health/dci/diseases/pe/pe_all.html. Accessed Sept. 7, 2006.
8. Ramzi DW, Leeper KV. DVT and pulmonary embolism: Part II: Treatment and prevention. Am Fam Physician. 2004; 69(12):
US.ENO
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