Spreading the word: Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month

March 1, 2010 - PRLog -- Bend, OR – March is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Awareness Month and efforts are focused on educating both the general public and medical professionals about the symptoms and available treatments of this potential killer.  DVT is a condition where a blood clot (thrombus) forms in the deep veins, most commonly of the legs.  As a part of the education effort, Dr. Andrew Jones and Dr. Ed Boyle, founders of Inovia Vein Specialty Center, have co-authored a patient-oriented reference titled “Understanding Deep Vein Thrombosis”.  It is intended this will be given to patients at their doctors office when they are first diagnosed with a DVT so they better understand the problem, the treatment options, and the implications for their health.

“When patients are diagnosed with a new DVT it can be a scary and sometimes confusing time.  A lot of information about the problem, potential complications and the treatment are presented to them in a very short period of time,” said Dr. Jones.  “Our hope is that with this booklet, patients newly diagnosed with a DVT will have helpful information immediately available to read and review and to be better educated about their diagnosis.  With the help of their health care providers, patients can utilize this point of care educational resource to better understand the disease process, possible complications and treatment options.”

"Our goal is to empower patients with critical information early in the process so they can take a more active role in their DVT management, hopefully supplementing what the patients learned from their care providers, and helping secure better outcomes long term,”  said Dr. Boyle.

Drs. Jones and Boyle have joined a national effort to raise awareness of Deep Vein Thrombosis and its potentially fatal complication, pulmonary embolism (PE).  March has been designated the official DVT Awareness Month but health care professionals are leading annual, on-going, efforts to combat DVT’s and PE’s.  DVT occurs in up to two million people each year in the U.S. and pulmonary embolism claims approximately 300,000 lives annually -- more than breast cancer and AIDS combined.  Additionally, people who experience a DVT are at high risk of having another within 1-2 years.  Many Americans are at risk for DVT so it is important to understand how to help reduce the risk of developing a potentially fatal blood clot and to recognize the symptoms of one.   To that end, “Understanding Deep Vein Thrombosis” was produced in collaboration between Drs. Jones and Boyle and the SIGVARIS Corporation, and is now being distributed to medical offices all over North America.

About Drs. Jones and Boyle
Dr. Andrew Jones and Dr. Ed Boyle are board certified surgeons with a special interest in the management of venous disease.  In 2006 they founded the Inovia Vein Specialty Center in Bend, Oregon specializing in the medical and surgical diagnosis and treatment of vein disorders.  In addition to their clinical efforts, Drs. Jones and Boyle are active in developing new medical technologies to more effectively treat venous diseases.  Through their commitment to excellence in clinical care, innovation and patient education, they hope to improve the care of vein patients they care for, as well as patients around the world.  Please visit www.bendvein.com for further information.

About SIGVARIS
SIGVARIS North America is part of an internationally active medical device group headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland that focuses on the development, production and distribution of medical compression garments, including hosiery and socks. With distribution in more than 50 countries on six continents, SIGVARIS is recognized as a global industry leader in the area of compression therapy for the management of venous and lymphatic disorders. SIGVARIS US manufacturing plant is located in Peachtree City, GA.   For more information, please visit www.sigvarisusa.com.

SIGVARIS Public Relations         
sigvariscares@SIGVARIS.com         
770-632-2930      

Inovia Media Contact:
Kelly Herman
kelly@kellyherman.com
(541) 419-8855

Inovia Vein Speciality Center:
2200 NE Neff Rd, Ste 204 Bend OR 97702.
Phone: 541-382-VEIN (382-8346)

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SIGVARIS® develops medical compression hosiery and socks, and is a global leader in compression therapy products that treat venous and lymphatic disorders like varicose veins, chronic vein insufficiency and deep vein thrombosis. www.sigvarisusa.com