RWJ Hamilton Joins National Campaign to Raise Awareness of Deep-Vein Thrombosis - A Silent, Preventable Killer

HAMILTON, NEW JERSEY – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton), in recognition of March as Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Awareness Month, supports a national effort to raise awareness of this serious, yet preventable condition. A national survey conducted in 2007 by the Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis reveals that 60 percent of Americans have not heard about this condition which affects up to two million Americans each year.

Vijay Vaswani, MD, board certified general surgeon at RWJ Hamilton

"DVT is a blood clot (thrombus) that forms in a large vein deep in the body, usually in the lower leg or thigh," says Vijay Vaswani, MD, board certified general surgeon at RWJ Hamilton. "If left untreated, this clot can travel through the bloodstream to the lungs and block circulation, leading to pulmonary embolism (PE), a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention." PE can damage the lungs and other organs in the body and cause death.

According to Dr. Vaswani, some people don't realize that they have DVT until they exhibit signs or symptoms of PE, which include unexplained shortness of breath, pain upon deep breathing, and coughing up blood. Rapid breathing and a fast heart rate may also be signs of PE.

Typically only about half of people with DVT have symptoms which occur in the leg affected by the clot. Symptoms may include swelling of the leg or along the vein; leg pain or tenderness (often felt only when standing or walking); increased warmth in the area of the leg that is swollen or painful; and red or discolored skin on the leg.

Certain individuals may be at increased risk for developing DVT; however, it can occur in almost anyone. There are several reasons why blood clots can form in the body's deep veins, including:

• Thick blood. Certain inherited conditions as well as the use of hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills increase blood's tendency to clot.
• Sluggish or slow blood flow. This can be caused by lack of movement during periods of long travel or recuperation from surgery.
• Damage to the deep vein's lining due to physical, chemical, or biological factors. Factors may include surgery, serious injury, inflammation, or an immune response.

Additional risk factors may include an incidence of cancer, heart or respiratory diseases, major surgery (such as hip or knee replacements), use of oral contraceptives or hormone therapy, being overweight or obese, pregnancy and the first six weeks after giving birth, and advanced age, although it can occur at any age. People who have had DVT before or have more than one risk factor are at increased risk for the condition.

Your doctor will diagnose DVT based on your medical history, a physical exam, and test results. Fortunately, once diagnosed, DVT is treatable with medicines that thin the blood, interfere with the clotting process and dissolve clots. Additional treatments may include using filters to catch clots and wearing compression stockings that prevent blood from pooling and clotting.

To help prevent DVT, stay active, see your doctor for regular checkups, follow your doctor's treatment plan, get out of bed and move around as soon as possible after surgery or illness, and exercise the lower leg muscles during long trips.

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.