WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley
(R-Iowa) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) recently introduced a resolution
recognizing the month of March as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary
Embolism Awareness Month to raise public awareness. Last night, the resolution
passed the Senate with unanimous support.
“Blood clots can cause deep vein
thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, but they are preventable and treatable,”
Grassley and Luján said in a joint
statement following the resolution’s passage. “We encourage all Americans to
know their own risks, signs and symptoms of blood clots, and then take the
steps they need to prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism by
talking to a health care professional or visiting
StopTheClot.org.”
“I want to thank Senators Grassley and
Lujan for their bipartisan leadership raising awareness of deep vein thrombosis
and pulmonary embolism,” said Todd
Robertson, a member of the National Blood Clot Alliance’s board of directors
and resident of Des Moines, Iowa. “I am passionate about raising awareness
of the risk of blood clots as someone who has suffered from six blood clots
myself and experienced a close call with pulmonary embolism. It is important
that all Americans know their risks and take steps to prevent and treat blood
clots that can easily result in deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.”
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition
that occurs when a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the body, such as in
the arm, abdomen, around the brain and most commonly in the leg. A potentially
life-threatening complication of DVT is pulmonary embolism (PE), where a blood
clot breaks off, travels through the bloodstream and lodges in the lung.
DVT and PE are serious but often
preventable medical conditions that affect as many as 900,000 Americans each
year. Oftentimes, cancer patients face DVT and PE complications. Pregnancy can
also increase the risk of DVT and PE.
Iowans wanting to learn more about the
signs of blood clots that could result in DVT and PE should visit
StopTheClot.org, hosted by the National Blood Clot Alliance.
Read the resolution by clicking
HERE.
-30-
