Friday, April 04, 2008
Blood clots can be silent killers
March was Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month, and many are not aware of how prevalent this condition is.
Nearly 300,000 people in the United States die each year from blood clots –more then automobile accidents, breast cancer, and AIDS combined. Yet a national survey indicates that 60% of Americans have little or no awareness of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and the potentially fatal complication, Pulmonary Embolism (PE).
DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins of the body, most often in the legs. The typical symptoms include pain, redness, and swelling of the lower leg.
Occasionally a piece of the clot will break off and travel through the blood stream and cause a blockage in the smaller vessels of the lungs. When this occurs it is termed a PE. A PE can cause shortness of breath and a sharp pain when breathing deeply and may lead to death.
When diagnosed early, DVT/PE is often easy to treat. But not everyone who develops a DVT or PE will experience those symptoms, making it hard to diagnose, which is why PE is often referred to as a “silent killer” and is the number one cause of death in hospitalized patients.
Even when treated successfully, patients may develop a long–term and often painful condition known as Postphlebitic Syndrome (PTS) and are at a greater risk for having a DVT again.
Prevention is the key.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has ranked DVT prevention as the number one patient safety initiative American hospitals can undertake.
The William W. Backus Hospital has responded by marking Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month with a number of programs aimed at educating patients, staff, and physicians.
Prevention of DVT and PE in hospitalized patients begins with a comprehensive assessment of a patient’s risk for developing a clot. Backus’ physicians now have a new risk assessment tool that aids in identifying those patients at risk for a clot.
Once identified, patients can be protected with injectable medications or special stockings depending on other conditions they may have.
But everyone should be aware of their own risk for a blood clot. Whether you are in the hospital or at home, you can be proactive to determine your own risk for developing blood clots, and then speak to your healthcare providers about your concerns.
Risks include certain medical and surgical conditions as well as family history and lifestyle. Major risks include heart failure, cancer, lung disease, recent surgery, and severe infections. Prior history of a DVT, smoking, birth control pills, and obesity all increase your risk as well.
These risks can even be higher if you are off your feet for extended periods of time due to illness or injury. You can protect yourself by discussing these issues with your doctors and keeping yourself informed. Do not hesitate to speak up if you feel you are at risk or are experiencing any signs and symptoms that concern you.
Internet sources such as http://www.preventdvt.org and www.dvt.net are filled with information that will keep you updated about this preventable, yet too often occurring disease.
Michael Smith is a pharmacist and Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Pharmacy Services at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. E-mail Smith and all of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org.
Nearly 300,000 people in the United States die each year from blood clots –more then automobile accidents, breast cancer, and AIDS combined. Yet a national survey indicates that 60% of Americans have little or no awareness of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and the potentially fatal complication, Pulmonary Embolism (PE).
DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins of the body, most often in the legs. The typical symptoms include pain, redness, and swelling of the lower leg.
Occasionally a piece of the clot will break off and travel through the blood stream and cause a blockage in the smaller vessels of the lungs. When this occurs it is termed a PE. A PE can cause shortness of breath and a sharp pain when breathing deeply and may lead to death.
When diagnosed early, DVT/PE is often easy to treat. But not everyone who develops a DVT or PE will experience those symptoms, making it hard to diagnose, which is why PE is often referred to as a “silent killer” and is the number one cause of death in hospitalized patients.
Even when treated successfully, patients may develop a long–term and often painful condition known as Postphlebitic Syndrome (PTS) and are at a greater risk for having a DVT again.
Prevention is the key.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has ranked DVT prevention as the number one patient safety initiative American hospitals can undertake.
The William W. Backus Hospital has responded by marking Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month with a number of programs aimed at educating patients, staff, and physicians.
Prevention of DVT and PE in hospitalized patients begins with a comprehensive assessment of a patient’s risk for developing a clot. Backus’ physicians now have a new risk assessment tool that aids in identifying those patients at risk for a clot.
Once identified, patients can be protected with injectable medications or special stockings depending on other conditions they may have.
But everyone should be aware of their own risk for a blood clot. Whether you are in the hospital or at home, you can be proactive to determine your own risk for developing blood clots, and then speak to your healthcare providers about your concerns.
Risks include certain medical and surgical conditions as well as family history and lifestyle. Major risks include heart failure, cancer, lung disease, recent surgery, and severe infections. Prior history of a DVT, smoking, birth control pills, and obesity all increase your risk as well.
These risks can even be higher if you are off your feet for extended periods of time due to illness or injury. You can protect yourself by discussing these issues with your doctors and keeping yourself informed. Do not hesitate to speak up if you feel you are at risk or are experiencing any signs and symptoms that concern you.
Internet sources such as http://www.preventdvt.org and www.dvt.net are filled with information that will keep you updated about this preventable, yet too often occurring disease.
Michael Smith is a pharmacist and Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Pharmacy Services at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. E-mail Smith and all of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org.
# posted by ----------------- @ 2:16 PM 
