View Full Version : March is DVT Awareness Month


EricIdlefan
03-09-2005, 12:18 AM
March is DVT Awareness Month. DVT stands for Deep Vein Thormbosis or also known as a Pulmonary Embolism. Over 600,000 people in the US alone suffer from a type of dvt and 200,000 people die in the US alone more than AIDS & Breast Cancer combined. This disease was brought into the public domain when NBC correspondent David Bloom die in Iraq back in April 2003.
DVT is caused by immobility, illness, and/or long hospitalization.
It is started when it travels from blood clot to lungs.
Blood clot partially or completely blocks flow of blood in veins.
Deep veins are surrounded by powerful muscles bring blood to the heart in the circulatory process.
Blood slows due to a "pool" of illness, immobility, and/or injury.
Pulmonary Embolism: Blood clot of pulmonary artery causing severe dysfunction in resportory function. Often originates in deep leg veins & travel to lung through blood circulation.

DVT & Cardiovascular Risks: Circulatory system in the network in the body responsible for transporting oxygen & nutrients.
Heart pumps oxygen rich blood through the arteries into smaller vessels called capillaries which distribute into the veins back into the heart through oxygen poor blood.
Heart must beat 365 days a year approximately 100,000 times.
All parts of the process from the heart, arteries, veins, and lungs must function efficiently. When one component weakens, the entire system may suffer.
Cardiovascular Disease: Disorder that affects the heart muscle or vessels of the heart. Condition that impacts the blood vessels such as poor circulation due to blockage. People are at risk of dvt because these factors heighten the likelihood of blood clots and pooling.

Blood clots are a natural part of healing to enable the injured tissue to being reparing itself without excessive blood loss.
In DVT case body signals clotting process otherwise occur unnecessarily at & in the wrong place & time.

Why do clots form:
1. Clotting factos release chemicals that signal the body to produce fibring thread-like protein that weaves itself through & stablizes.
2. Special proteins called clotting factors creating the clot bonding the platelets.
3. Blood vessels injure platelets attach themselves to the wounded area that are injured & disc-shaped.
4. Signals proteins called clothing factors creating the clot bonding the platelets.

Causes of dvt & pulmonary embolism:
Rapid pulse
Excessive sweating
Anxiety or nervousness
Very-low blood pressure
Fainting
Coughing up blood
Sharp chest pain
Shortness of breath
Seek proper medication and/or hospitalization

Medication:
Anticoagulants
Low-molecular Weight Heparins
Unfractionated Heparin
Warfarin

Prevention & Treatment
Taking Precautions
Diet & Exercise
Take these medications as prescribed. Read the product aware of side effects.
Don't take with any herbal remedies or vitamin supplements without checking healthcare provider.

There are many, many websites devoted to dvt and pulmonary embolism but here are two very accurate websites with detailed information:
www.preventdvt.org
www.dvt.net

If you are feeling a "small cramp" in your legs or any body part for more than two days, don't ignore the signs. Because those are signs of dvt. Go seek medical help as well as medication. Also do some research on dvt and pulmonary embolism.
What you don't know could hurt you.

Georgia's on my Mind
03-09-2005, 12:27 AM
its also : awareness month

swedeace
03-09-2005, 04:05 PM
This is good to know!

When I flew for 9-10 hours non-stop, I had to walk around, do leg stretches and muscle therapy in fear of not getting DVT.

If anyone needs helpful flying hints, let me know. I have created a website with helpful tips, especially touching base with DVT prevention.