Supporting the goals and ideals of “Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month”.

Supporting the goals and ideals of “Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month”.

Whereas deep vein thrombosis (referred to in this resolution as “DVT”) is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the body, most commonly in the leg, although it can occur anywhere in the body, such as the veins in the arm, abdomen, or around the brain;

Whereas a potentially life-threatening complication of DVT is pulmonary embolism (in this resolution referred to as “PE”), where a blood clot breaks off, travels through the bloodstream, and lodges in the lung;

Whereas DVT/PE is a serious, but often preventable, medical condition;

Whereas DVT/PE occurs in an estimated 900,000 individuals in the United States each year;

Whereas DVT/PE kills an estimated 100,000 individuals in the United States each year, more than HIV, breast cancer, and motor vehicle accidents combined;

Whereas DVT/PE deaths are often preventable;

Whereas DVT/PE is the leading cause of preventable hospital death in the United States;

Whereas DVT/PE is a common complication in cancer patients and the leading cause of death in people with cancer after the cancer itself;

Whereas pregnancy increases risk of DVT/PE, and that risk remains elevated for up to 6 weeks after giving birth;

Whereas immobility, surgery, older age, a family history of clotting, and thrombophilia increase risk of DVT/PE;

Whereas DVT/PE contributes to an estimated $10,000,000,000 in incremental medical costs each year in the United States; and

Whereas the establishment of March as “Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month” would raise awareness about this life-threatening but preventable condition: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,