Deep-vein thrombosis may not have the same public profile as AIDS or breast cancer, but each year, nearly 60,000 Americans — more than AIDS and breast cancer combined — die from a pulmonary embolism triggered by deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that usually forms in the lower leg before traveling to the lungs.
Up to 2 million Americans develop DVT each year, and 600,000 will experience a pulmonary embolism because of it.
Leading medical experts gathered Oct. 7 to discuss and answer questions about the risks and prevention of deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center's 27th Annual Women's Health Symposium.
Organized by the Women's Health Symposium Steering Committee, which is co-chaired by Joan Weill and Myra Mahon, the luncheon benefit and panel discussion, "Blood: Unraveling the Mysteries Flowing Through Your Veins," was moderated by Dr. Herbert Pardes, president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
"We can do a lot to protect ourselves and keep ourselves healthy if we learn about our own health care and seek out the information we need, and that's exactly what we are doing today," Dr. Pardes said.
This year's featured speakers were Melanie Bloom, the national patient spokesperson for the Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis; Dr. Orli Etingin, medical director of the Iris Cantor Women's Health Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell; and Dr. Andrew Schafer, chairman of the Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Ms. Bloom lost her husband, David Bloom, a correspondent with NBC News, to a pulmonary embolism brought on by deep-vein thrombosis while he was covering the war in Iraq in 2003.
"I believe that through knowledge and awareness, David's life could have been saved," said Ms. Bloom, who was also interviewed on MSNBC.com about DVT and the symposium. "Your being here shows me that you care, that you are informed, and that you are proactive in your own health care."
Risk factors for DVT and PE include pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy, prolonged immobilization, trauma, advanced age, cancer and other underlying diseases. People recovering from recent surgical procedures should also be wary of clots.
Most of all, a history of blood clots or an inherited tendency to clot present the greatest risk.
"Unfortunately, the symptoms, if they occur at all, are quite non-specific," Dr. Schafer said.
Because estrogen increases the risk for thrombosis, women are especially susceptible to DVT.
"The key is knowing the risk factors and getting tested," Dr. Etingin said "Get your mother, your sister, your daughters — have them tested."
Compression socks worn during any prolonged period of immobility — long plane flights or car trips, for example — can help reduce the risk of clots.
"As women, we are the gatekeepers of family health," Mrs. Mahon said. "We learned a lot today and we will spread that message to our friends and family."
"This is a subject that covers all ages," Mrs. Weill added. "We all travel in planes and we all cover great distances. Raising awareness for deep-vein thrombosis is our top priority."
Betty Cooper Wallerstein, who has attended several Women's Health Symposia over the years, commented that this year's discussion was extremely informative.
"The speakers did an excellent job relating the topic to the audience," Ms. Wallerstein said. "You get the best minds giving the best information and there is the opportunity to answer questions. I really look forward to these events."
Photography by Joe Vericker.