Do You Know Thrombosis? The Public Health Threat That Is More Common Than You Think

When she was just 21 years-old, Arielle Dance was rushed to the hospital after experiencing chest pains following a recent surgery. She was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism (PE), a blood clot that had traveled to her lungs. A dancer for many years, Arielle had always lived an active lifestyle, but her mother, who had experienced blood clots in the past, was able to recognize the symptoms. Four years later, at age 25, Arielle was diagnosed with another PE and was later sent home with an oxygen tank.

“I was only 25 years old with an oxygen tank — it was difficult,” she shared. “Later, my doctors told me they would have to keep me on a blood thinner for the rest of my life because I seem to be prone to clotting. That was tough to hear along with the realization that I could have died — again.”

When it comes to thrombosis, commonly known as blood clots, Arielle is certainly not alone.

Thrombosis is the formation of potentially deadly blood clots in the artery or vein. There are an estimated 10 million annual cases of venous thromboembolism, or VTE– a condition that includes both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Looking at recent prominent cases, such as Serena Williams and Miami Heat athlete Chris Bosh, thrombosis can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, race or ethnicity — even those who are staying healthy by eating right and exercising. In fact, one in four deaths worldwide is related to conditions caused by thrombosis.

Thrombosis, a non-communicable disease, is just one of the many diseases that the World Health Assembly aims to reduce premature deaths from by 25 percent by the year 2025. To increase global awareness of thrombosis and VTE, and to educate the public on the underlying causes, risk factors, and signs and symptoms, the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) declared October 13 as World Thrombosis Day. Today, nearly 500 organizations around the world, including the National Health System (NHS) in the U.K., American Heart Association (AHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have joined the global movement to address this urgent public health issue.

Lessening the burden of thrombosis will not be an easy task, but we know where the challenges lie. Many, if not most, cases of thrombosis are preventable, and yet too many patients slip through the cracks. Approximately 60 percent of VTE cases happen to patients during or after being hospitalized or undergoing surgery. In the United States alone, nearly 550,000 hospitalized patients are diagnosed with VTE every year. Ironically, the post-op recovery period can sometimes be the most dangerous time for a patient, given that prolonged immobility can lead to the formation of blood clots. VTE is also the fifth most frequent reason for unplanned hospital readmissions after surgery, causing a huge burden on our healthcare system. By conducting routine risk assessments on patients, providing insurance incentives to hospitals that comply with risk assessment protocols, and ensuring that patients know about risk assessments, all stakeholders play a role in reducing blood clots.

Thrombosis is common, but general awareness about the condition is very low. In a 2014 global survey of nine countries conducted by the ISTH, only 68 percent of those surveyed were aware of blood clots, much lower than awareness of other potentially life-threatening health conditions such as hypertension.

Although thrombosis can affect anyone, those who are age 60 or older are at a higher risk, as are individuals with cancer, people who undergo long periods of immobility and women who are pregnant. That’s why it is so important to understand your risk and ask your doctor for a risk assessment if you are hospitalized. It is also critical to know the signs and symptoms of a clot so you can seek immediate medical attention. When someone isn’t feeling well, or just had surgery, it can be tough to identify symptoms as something more serious than just a side effect of recovery. Symptoms like pain, swelling or warmth in the leg, shortness of breath, chest pain or lightheadedness can all be signs of a blood clot. So and talk to your doctor about your risks.

As we work to reduce the global burden of thrombosis, it is imperative that we raise awareness of this deadly, but treatable, disease. Join World Thrombosis Day and help save lives by being a part of increasing awareness of thrombosis around the world. Share this post, comment below and visit WorldThrombosisDay.org to learn more.