March Is DVT Awareness Month: What Happened to Serena Williams Could Happen to You!

March 8, 2011 - PRLog -- Tennis star Serena Williams knows firsthand about the dangers of blood clots after suffering from one this past week that resulted in a pulmonary embolism, according to National news reports.

A pulmonary embolism is the result of a deep vein thrombosis or DVT. DVT causes blood to clot, creating a thrombus (clot) within a vein that is deep inside the body, usually in the lower leg or thigh.

SIGVARIS is working to educate people about DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) prevention because wearing compression socks or stockings plays a role in the prevention, treatment and management of DVT as well as the complications associated with it. SIGVARIS offers a wide range of fashionable hosiery and socks with graduated compression that people can wear to help prevent DVT.

“SIGVARIS became the global leader in medical compression therapy by caring about the health of the people that wear our products. We want to help raise awareness about the dangers of DVT because many people develop blood clots in their leg just as Serena Williams did. As a company, we strive to help people have healthy legs, and our DVT prevention campaign allows us to fulfill our mission to educate everyone about how to keep their legs healthy,” says Judith Brannan, SIGVARIS Medical Education & Affairs Manager.


What You Should Know About DVT:
• Every year more people die from blood clots than from breast cancer and AIDS combined.
• More than one million Americans are diagnosed with DVT every year.
• The risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) applies to any type of long distance travel that involves long periods of sitting, such as plane, car, train or bus.  
• An estimated 85 percent of air travel thrombosis victims are athletic, usually endurance athletes.  
• Research shows that wearing compression stockings for up to two years after having a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) reduces the risk of developing Post Thrombotic Syndrome a medical condition with symptoms that include pain (aching or cramping), heaviness, itching, tingling, swelling (edema), varicose veins, brownish or reddish skin discoloration and ulcers.
• DVT is one of the leading causes of death for those between the ages 20 to 44.


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following tips for DVT prevention:
• Maintain a healthy weight, eat a healthy diet and don’t smoke
• Exercise regularly
• Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol or caffeine
• Wear loose-fitting clothes
• When traveling or sitting for more than four hours get up and walk around every few hours and exercise legs while sitting.
• Move around as soon as possible after surgery, illness or injury
• Those at risk for DVT should talk to their doctor about graduated compression stockings and medication (anticoagulants) to prevent or treat DVT

To learn more about DVT prevention, check out these educational resources:
http://www.sigvarisusa.com
http://www.stoptheclot.org/                                                                                 http://www.vdf.org/diseaseinfo/dvt/                                 http://www.phlebology.org/patientinfo/untreated.html                  http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/faq_dvt.htm

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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 graduated 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 chronic venous insufficiency and venous disorders. SIGVARIS’ US manufacturing plant is located in Peachtree City, GA. SIGVARIS is a committed DVT prevention advocate. In addition to medical products, SIGVARIS also manufactures lifestyle and sports products based on its expertise in graduated compression therapy. www.sigvarisusa.com SIGVARIS, LIFE FOR LEGS and the leg icon are registered trademarks of Ganzoni & Cie AG, St.Gallen/Switzerland and in many countries worldwide.