e-Newsletter - September 2016
Advancing the Prevention, Early Diagnosis, and
Treatment of Life-Threatening Blood Clots
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NBCA Launches New Initiative Focused on University-Based Student Health Centers
The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA), in partnership with the Alexandra L. Rowan Memorial Foundation, and as an extension of our existing
Women and Blood Clots program,
has just launched a suite of new resources focused squarely on the information needs of young women seeking a better understanding about their potential blood clot risks when estrogen-based birth control options are being considered.
The new assets associated with our Women & Blood Clots program include life-saving tools and information, most notably an important new risk assessment tool. Also included in the materials are a program overview, a blood clots and hormonal birth control fact sheet, a summary of related resources and educational content, and the personal stories of three young women affected by blood clots.
To coincide with the start of the new school year, NBCA launched this information nationwide the week after Labor Day, making it available in both hard copy and electronic formats to universities and colleges, that in turn can now share it with young women who visit their student health centers seeking birth control or birth control counseling.
Blood clots do not discriminate -- they affect people of all ages, race, and gender. However, women face a lifetime of blood clot risks connected to the choices they make about certain aspects of their healthcare. Birth control that contains estrogen, for example, places women at increased risk for dangerous blood clots.
More than 60 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States use some form of contraception or birth control. The most common contraceptive method used among younger women, or women between the ages of 15 and 24, is the birth control pill, which is used by 22 percent of women in this age group.
Research shows that the birth control pill can be safely and effectively used by many women, but hormonal contraception in any form also is well documented as a potential risk factor for life-threatening blood clots. Birth control pills increase a woman's risk for blood clots three-fold, while newer pills pose a risk double that of the older pills.
You can access all of this new information on our Women and Blood Clots site,
here
.
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Join the
Revlon LOVE IS ON™ Million Dollar Challenge 2016
This challenge involves a friendly fundraising competition, whereby organizations that support womens health causes compete for cash prize donations from Revlon. The top- five charities that raise the most money will win cash prizes ranging from $25,000 to $1,000,000. Placing in the top-five would be a monumental opportunity for our growing organizat
ion.
The six-week Challenge kicks off this week, on September 14, at 12:00 pm ET, and runs through October 26. NBCA is ready to raise as much money as we can, so we can compete for and win the $1 million grand prize. Throughout the Challenge, NBCA also will be offering fun contests and incentives for our team. This is an exciting and easy opportunity to get involved with NBCA.
We are looking for NBCA supporters to
join our team by telling their stories and creating fundraising pages.
By reaching out to your network of supporters to ask for donations, you expand the reach of our efforts and help us make an even bigger impact.
Setting up a page is easy and takes less than five minutes. From your desktop, all you have to do is
click here and then select "Fundraise for This Campaign." Mobile users, please
click here and then select "The Team" and click on "Join Team." We are here to answer any questions and will update you with our progress, contests, and tips to help you be successful along the way.
To stay up to date with the progress of this campaign, please visit
this page .
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September is AFib Awareness Month
September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, and you may be wondering, what is Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) and what does it have to do with blood clots?
More t
han
2.6 million Americans are affected by AFib. While it is generally not life-th
reatening by itself, AFib can lead to some serious medical complications, including clot-provoked stroke.
When you have AFib, the normal rhythm of your heart becomes irregular, due to disorganized electrical signals. This causes the upper chambers of your heart, called the atria, to beat chaotically. This restricts blood from being efficiently pumped from your heart. When your heart can't pump out blood effectively, t
he blood can sometimes pool in the upper chamber of your heart and form a blood clot, which can travel to your brain and cause a stroke.
Check out these important resources for more information about AFib:
AFib: A Patient's Perspective
Melissa Duncan experienced AFib frequently and is sharing her story to help other patients navigate what is often an overwhelming and scary time.
After her second AFib incident and a successful appointment with her cardiologist, Melissa was placed on anticoagulants and decided she would have her first ablation, or surgery to relieve the symptoms of AFib, in February 2014. The procedure was a success, and she remained in complete normal heart rhythm for five months --
until the AFib returned.
Melissa's next step was a second ablation. Her doctor was very pleased with her results the second time, which revealed a 95 percent success rate. She returned home the morning after her surgery, continued on anticoagulants, and followed-up with her healthcare provider in three months. Melissa has since been able to stop treatment with blood thinners and remains AFib-free.
Today, Melissa is sharing some important thoughts with fellow AFib patients. She says, "
I learned some important things on my journey. You need to take an anticoagulant; there are so many people who have and are still living with this affliction, you are not alone; there are no cures for AFib, only treatment; and, the support I received from day one was crucial to my recovery. Knowledge is power, learn everything you possibly can about your health issues. Be your own advocate because it's your body and your decisions."
Read all of Melissa's story here.
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Community Connection
Kicks for Clots - Charlotte, North Carolina, Saturday, October 8
Join us in Charlotte, NC, on Saturday, October 8, for the Kicks for Clots Kickball tournament between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the National Blood Clot Alliance. You can recruit your own team of 12 members, or join an existing team.
Click here for additional information or to register. If you are unable to attend the event, but want to donate to one of our teams, click "Donate" on the
registration page.
Upcoming World Thrombosis Day Webinar with IPRO, Thursday, October 13
IPRO, a national organization that provides services to improve healthcare quality and achieve better patient outcomes, is hosting a webinar on World Thrombosis Day, Thursday, October 13, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET, to increase understanding among patients and the public about life-threatening blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and clot-provoked stroke. This webinar will involve a videotaped presentation, featuring medical experts from IPRO and several patient representatives from NBCA.
Visit NBCA's website to learn more and register.
World Thrombosis Day VTE Educational Symposium, New York, NY, Thursday, October 13
NBCA is pleased to be participating in a World Thrombosis Day educational symposium, focused on the topic of hospital-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE), October 13, 2016, 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm, in New York City. This symposium will feature presentations from three leading experts in the VTE arena, plus a panel discussion including an NBCA patient ambassador. This symposium is designed for healthcare professionals, but the public, patients, and the media also are welcome to attend this no-cost event. You can learn more and register for this World Thrombosis Day symposium here: WTD VTE Symposium.
Blood Clots Presentation to NFL Staff in NYC
Our thanks to Dr. Jack Ansell, former chair of NBCA's Medical and Scientific Advisory Board, for his presentation about blood clots to staff at the National Football League in New York. Pictured left to right: Mimi MacKinnon, Events Manager, National Football League, Dr. Ansell, Judi Kaplan Elkin, NBCA's Director of Development & Regional Affairs, and NBCA volunteers Theresa Lewis and Lisa Scott.
Clarence Center Labor Day Parade Attended by Englert Family
Paul and Denise Englert participated in the third annual Clarence Center Labor Day Parade, walking in memory of their son,
Paul Englert, Jr
, in their hometown of Clarence Center, NY. At the parade, candy was distributed to children and informational material provided by the National Blood Clot Alliance was given to adults to help educate them about the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of blood clots. Thank you to the Englerts for all that they do to honor their
son and help us raise awareness about blood clots.
Get Involved
If you are a survivor, family member, or NBCA supporter wondering how you can make a difference, we are looking for you. The National Blood Clot Alliance is searching for volunteers to plan local events to raise awareness and help support our mission. We will work with you closely to ensure that your event is successful and unique to you. These events can be a great way to connect with your community, honor a loved one, or share your own experience while helping others. If you're up for it,
fill out our Volunteer Questionnaire and a staff member will be in touch with you.
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