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Belleville, NJ -- Clara Maass Medical Center will join forces with the Coalition to Prevent DVT (Deep-Vein Thrombosis) by participating in the Coalition’s fifth annual National DVT Awareness Month. Community members are welcomed to visit Clara Maass Medical Center on March 11, 2009 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., to learn more about DVT and complete a screening questionnaire to determine if they should be screened for DVT.
Representatives from the Coalition to Prevent DVT and members of Clara Maass Medical Center Community Health will be present at information tables to answer any questions and to administer the questionnaires.
Each year up to two million people in the United States suffer from DVT and approximately 600,000 Americans are hospitalized for it and its primary complication, a pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT- related PE is the most common cause of preventable hospital death. Certain individuals may be at increased risk for developing DVT, but it can occur in almost anyone.
DVT occurs when a blood clot forms within a deep vein, most often in the upper leg or calf. The blood clot can partially or completely block blood flow in the vein and potentially travel to the lung, causing PE. DVT can occur whenever blood can pool or stagnate. It is often associated with any form of long distance travel—whether it is by car, coach, train or especially airplane—because it often involves passengers sitting in cramped areas for a long period of time.
“We hope that through this initiative, more people in the community will be aware of DVT,” said Mary Ellen Clyne, MSN, RN, CNAA, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, Patient Care Services, Clara Maass Medical Center. “Once people can understand and recognize the symptoms, the risk of DVT can be reduced by communicating with their healthcare providers and properly treating it.”
Symptoms can include pain, tenderness, swelling, redness, unexplained fever, rapid heart beat and/or sudden, unexplained cough or difficulty breathing. However, DVT can be avoided by taking the right precautions. If you think you are at high-risk for developing DVT, consult a physician before you travel. Other preventative measures include rotating your feet to keep the blood flowing, wearing loose fitting clothing, taking any opportunity to get out of your seat to walk around, and wearing good supporting stockings.
For more information, visit the Coalition’s website, www.preventdvt.org, or visit www.saintbarnabas.com.
Clara Maass Medical Center, an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, provides a complete continuum of care to residents of northern New Jersey. Clara Maass Centers of medical excellence include the Women’s Health Center, Nuclear Medicine, the Cancer Center at Clara Maass, Diagnostic Cardiac Services including Cardiac Catheterization, Emergency Angioplasty and Rehabilitation, The Pain Management Center, The Orthopedic Spine & Joint Institute, a Vascular Center, Same Day Surgery, The Clara Maass Wound Center, The Center for Sleep Disorders, Rehabilitation Services, Maternity Services and Parent Education, as well as Pediatrics. For a physician referral or more information about upcoming Clara Maass Medical Center community health events, call 1-888-SBHS-123 or visit www.saintbarnabas.com.
Date: March 3, 2009
CONTACT:
Cathy Toscano
Office 973.450.2996
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