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\nIf you are currently or recently hospitalized, recovering from surgery, or being treated for cancer, you are at increased risk of developing serious and potentially deadly blood clots. This condition, called healthcare-associated venous thromboembolism (HA-VTE), is a deadly, costly, and growing public health problem. Learn what you can do to protect yourself.
\nDeep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a large vein, usually in the leg or pelvis. A DVT can break free from where it formed and move through the bloodstream. If the clot moves through the heart to the lungs it can block an artery supplying blood to the lungs. This condition is called pulmonary embolism (PE) which can be fatal. DVT and PE, together, are known as venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE is a major public health problem, with hundreds of thousands of people affected each year. Almost half of all blood clots are healthcare-associated (HA-VTE) \u2014 that is, they occur during or soon after surgery or a stay in a hospital or healthcare setting. But HA-VTE can be prevented.
\nPeople can develop a blood clot for a variety of reasons. However, having surgery or being a patient in the hospital increases your risk for developing a blood clot. Also, many blood clots don\u2019t occur until after discharge from the hospital. Therefore it is important to know what you can do to minimize the risk of HA-VTE.
\nBefore surgery or hospitalization: Ask your healthcare provider if you are at risk for blood clots and whether you need preventive treatment.
\nOctober 13 marks World Thrombosis Day , a day devoted to the global movement to prevent blood clots. CDC supports World Thrombosis Day and this year\u2019s theme is HA-VTE.
\nHere are some tips to help you protect yourself if you are planning a hospital stay or a procedure in a healthcare setting:
\nBefore surgery or hospitalization: Ask your healthcare provider if you are at risk for blood clots and whether you need preventive treatment.
\nUpon discharge: Ask your healthcare team the following questions:
\nAt home:
\nThe top-judged organizations found to have implemented innovative and effective VTE prevention strategies will be recognized as HA-VTE Prevention Champions.
CDC has also funded NBCA to develop an online curriculum for healthcare professionals called Stop the Clot: What Every Healthcare Professional Should Know. This self-paced, online course provides the most current foundational information and clinical considerations to assess, treat, and manage patients who have blood clots.
Duke Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center
CDC funded Duke to complete work on the This Is Serious campaign. This campaign, developed in partnership with CDC and the Spirit of Women\u00ae hospital network, was designed to drive awareness and action around the prevention of blood clots in women. Topics addressed include pregnancy, surgery and trauma, and cancer.
DVT
\nAbout half of people with DVT have no symptoms at all. The following are the most common symptoms of DVT that occur in the affected part of the body, often the leg or arm:
\nIf you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible.
\nPE
\nYou can have a PE without any symptoms of a DVT.
\nSigns and symptoms of PE can include:
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