e-Newsletter - April 2016
Advancing the Prevention, Early Diagnosis, and
Treatment of Life-Threatening Blood Clots
|
Highlighting Women & Blood Clots During National Women's Health Week 2016
In recognition of National Women's Health Week, which kicks off on Mother's Day, May 8, and is celebrated through May 14, 2016, the
National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA)
is empowering women to take charge of their health by highlighting the blood clot risks associated with estrogen-based birth control pills, pregnancy and childbirth, and the treatment of menopause symptoms.
For nearly every stage of a woman's life, there is an associated blood clot risk. During the second week of May, the NBCA will be sharing material from our Women and Blood Clots Web portal - dedicated to informing women about the unique risk they face for blood clots - in a new and creative way across our social media channels. In the spirit of the core values associated with Women's Health Week, our aim is to empower women to make their health a priority and take what steps they can to improve their health.
Did you know? Nearly 900,000 people are affected by blood clots each year, and 100,000 people will die each year as a result of blood clots. While it may be Women's Health Week, our content is also important for men to recognize and share. Blood clots do not discriminate - they can affect anyone - and gentleman, it is important to share this life-saving information about blood clot risk, signs and symptoms with the women you know. Chances are, someone you know may be at risk for a blood clot. The good news is, blood clots can be prevented and the most important step anyone can take to prevent blood clots is to know their risk.
Join our movement to help women recognize their risk for blood clots and take steps to reduce or eliminate that risk. Below we share some simple steps you can take to help share this life-saving information with the women in your life. Together, we can make a difference and make our voices heard.
|
|
 |
Make Your Voice Count and Stop
the Clot®
For National Women's Health Week 2016, the National Blood Clot Alliance is partnering with the social media sharing platform Thunderclap to share one,
united, life-saving message across social media sites you use
everyday, like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.
What exactly is a Thunderclap? It's a mass social media message sent out on multiple platforms at a pre-determined date and time with the goal of flooding the Internet with a unified message. Sort of like a rallying cry if we were all in the same room, the more people we have together, the greater our collective voice or message resonates.
Our message encourages women to take charge of their health and learn how crucial choices they face throughout their lives contribute to a spectrum of blood clot risks.
It's easy to sign-up for this Thunderclap:
1. Click
here
and s
elect your favorite social media channel (Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr).
2. Authorize Thunderclap one-time access to your account to post the message on May 12, 2016 at 11:00 am Eastern for maximum impact. You don't even have to remember to log-in.
3. Repeat and select additional social media accounts.
4. Share this
link
with your friends and family.
To learn more about our Thunderclap campaign, visit
here.
|
May is American Stroke Month
Like blood clots, strokes can affect people of all ages and backgrounds - they do not discriminate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, e
very 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke, and each year almost 800,000 strokes occur here. Nearly a quarter of these strokes occur in people under the age of 65.
A stroke, which occurs when the flow of blood to part of the brain is significantly reduced or blocked, can lead to permanent brain damage or even death. The most common cause of stroke is a blood clot due to atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat commonly referred to as AFib),
because blood may not be properly pumped out of the heart, which can cause it to pool and form a clot. This clot can then travel to the brain, block the flow of blood there, and cause a stroke.
In recognition of American Stroke Month this May, it is important to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of stroke and also to take steps to reduce your risk.
Know & Reduce Your Risk
The best thing you can do to reduce your risk of stroke is to be informed. Talk to your doctor to find out if you are at risk for a stroke and come up with a plan to help reduce that risk.
When it comes to treating AFib, there are two primary treatment goals: reducing the risk of blood clots and stroke and managing abnormal heart rate or rhythm. As a result, patients may need one or more medications, such as anticoagulants or antiplatelets, to treat their AFib. Other things that can put you at risk for a stroke include:
Recognize Signs & Symptoms of Stroke
Seek help immediately or call 911 if you or someone you know experiences any of these warning signs of a stroke:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Learn the helpful, F.A.S.T. way to spot the warning signs of stroke. You also can learn more about American Stroke Month by visiting the American Stroke Association here.
Read more about AFib and clot-provoked stroke here.
|
|
|
Community Connection
Run with Team Stop The Clot® for the TCS NYC Marathon!
On November 6th, 2016, Team Stop The Clot® will take on the TCS NYC Marathon for the fifth year in a row. In total, our team of 35 members has raised $176,000 for the National Blood Clot Alliance and brought awareness to the signs, symptoms, and risk factors for blood clots. We are looking for blood clot survivors or NBCA supporters to join our 2016 team. If you're up for this very special challenge,
fill out this application
or e-mail Judi Elkin at jelkin@stoptheclot.org.
Upcoming Events
Inaugural Internship with the University of Pittsburgh a Success
We recently finished our first Internship term with Casey Schmauder, a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh. Casey was an asset to NBCA's Communications team for several months, helping with research pertaining to Women and Blood Clots and our ongoing work with The Rowan Foundation. Casey also contributed to our April e-Newsletter and worked on updating existing materials on our website. With her NBCA internship now complete, Casey will be writing for Youth Nation in Dublin, Ireland, this summer, and returns to campus next year as the Vice President of Her Campus Pittsburgh, a digital media resource for female college students.
Discussing Thromboembolism and the Role of Hormonal Therapy in Adolescent Females
The Foundation for Women and Girls with Blood Disorders recently co-hosted a webinar entitled Adolescent Thrombosis: Etiology, Prophylaxis, and the Role of Hormonal Therapy, which was presented by Dr. Lakshmi Srivaths and Dr. Jennifer E. Dietrich. This webinar provided evidence-based, practical information about the complications of thromboembolism among female adolescents, and sought to inform medical providers about the role of hormonal therapy.
You can view the webinar in it's entirety
here
.
A DVT in My Arm Changed My Life: Hailey Rutherford's Blood Clot Story
Hailey Rutherford experienced a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in her arm that has changed her life forever. Hailey says, "My maternal grandmother had blood clots in the past and I was on the pill. If I had known what the pill would do to me, or how it would change my life forever, I would not have made the decision to use them. I have recently finished my blood thinner regimen, but I am still dealing with the psychological aftermath of such a scary, life-altering experience." Read Hailey's story here.
|
Get Engaged in Your Community Today
Join the
National Blood Clot Alliance
Online Support Group and Discussion Community,
safe and supportive place where you
can inspire and be inspired.
Sign up for free here:
Let's connect
|
|
ICYMI: All the News That's Fit to Link
|
NBCA Corporate Roundtable
|
|
|
|
|
