Points to Major Public Health Impact of Blood Clots
TARRYTOWN, NY — March 3, 2011 — The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA), a nationwide patient advocacy organization dedicated to blood clot awareness, education and advocacy, extends its wishes to Serena Williams for a swift recovery from her recent pulmonary embolism (PE).
A PE is a blood clot that travels to the lungs, usually from a blood clot in the lower leg, which is known as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). PE can be life threatening. Blood clots are a major public health problem in the United States with as many as 600,000 blood clots occurring each year, with at least 100,000 attributable deaths. Each year, there are more than 200,000 PEs.
“We extend to Ms. Williams the support of our organization,” says Randy Fenninger, NBCA President. “Blood clots can strike anyone, young and old, athletes and non-athletes alike. It’s important for people to recognize the risk factors and the signs and symptoms for DVT and PE, as blood clots can be prevented.”
Information specific to DVT/PE risk factors and signs and symptoms is available at NBCA’s Web site — www.stoptheclot.org — or you can contact the organization for more information at 877.466-2658.
