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December 2, 2008 8:46:02 PM CST

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Surgeon General Targets Killer Blood Clots

Posted Sep 15, 08 5:08 PM CDT in US,  Science & Health 

(Newser) – An easily treatable complication related to blood clots kills 100,000 Americans every year, but a new federal awareness campaign aims to change that, the AP reports. Although deep vein thrombosis affects up to 600,000 people a year, "I don't think most people understand that this is a serious medical problem or what can be done to prevent it," the acting surgeon general said at the announcement of a "call to action."

DVT involves the formation of large clots, usually in the legs. It is most common in sedentary situations, like long plane flights or bed rest, but is related to a number of other common conditions, Reuters reports. A cardiologist praised the government's effort, saying "DVT after all these years will finally get the national spotlight like cigarette smoking did in the mid-60s."

Sources Associated Press, Reuters

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Acting U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Steven Galson.   (AP Photo)
Alert your doctor if you have risk factors that make you susceptible to DVT.   (AP Photo)
A blood clotting monitor.   (AP Photo)
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It's a silent killer. It's hard to diagnose. I don't think most people understand that this is a serious medical problem or what can be done to prevent it. - Dr. Steven Galson, acting Surgeon General

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