NATT WASHINGTON DAY – 1ST TIME EVER!

JOIN US ON THE HILL AS WE WALK THE HALLS AND FIGHT TO STOP THE CLOT^TM
February 25- 26, 2009

This February 25th & 26th NATT will join forces with the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF), and others from across the coagulation spectrum to advocate on behalf of all Americans affected by clotting and bleeding disorders. This is your chance to walk the Halls of Congress, meet with your elected officials and put a face on issues that affect people with clotting disorders.

Registration deadline is February 4^th

Register Today!

Click here for complete details.

National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia - Stop the Clot ^TM Website

The National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia (NATT) is a patient led advocacy group dedicated to prevent, diagnose and treat thrombosis and thrombophilia through research, education, support and advocacy.

Several hundred thousand Americans die each year from blood clots in the veins. Most of these lives could have been saved if more patients and health professionals had known about the symptoms, risks, and treatments. NATT has joined forces with the CDC, US Surgeon General and other voluntary health agencies to promote education, diagnosis and treatment of blood clots. Please browse our site to learn more about blood clots and join with us to help Stop the Clot.

Know the Symptoms for Deep Vein Thrombosis and Seek Medical Assistance Immediately

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that usually occurs in the leg, most often on one side, although it can happen in other parts of the body. DVT afflicts over 380,000 people per year in the United States. If the blood clot dislodges, it can travel to the lungs and cause a blockage known as a pulmonary embolism (PE) or lung clot. Lung clots affect over 530,000 people a year and 300,000, or almost 1 out of 3, are fatal.

Watch for these DVT (leg clot) symptoms:

Swelling, usually in one leg
Leg pain or tenderness
Reddish or bluish skin discoloration
Leg warm to touch

Watch for these PE (lung clot) symptoms:

Sudden shortness of breath
Chest pain-sharp, stabbing; may get worse with deep breath
Rapid heart rate
Unexplained cough, sometimes with bloody mucus

Get HELP right away if you experience these symptoms!

Visit our Learn More section for detailed information on the symptoms, risks and treatment options as well as information on rare conditions. Visit our Patient Stories section to read actual patient accounts of their blood clot experience. If you are a medical professional seeking tools and information for your practice visit our For Professionals section to learn more.

Are You At Risk for a Blood Clot?

The following is a list of risk factors for thrombosis and thrombophilia:

Genetic Predisposition
Smoking
Obesity
Age
International Travel
Airplane Travel
Bed Rest
Surgery
Surgical Recovery
Injury Recovery
Pregnancy
Oral Contraceptives
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Sitting in one position for long periods
Cancer

Click here for more information on the risk factors for blood clots.

The Blood Clot Statistics Are Staggering

Almost 900,000 Americans suffer from venous thromboembolism (VTE) every year.
Of these, about 380,000 develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Nearly 300,000 deaths per year.
Only 50% of those with DVT have symptoms, yet quick, effective treatment is critical
600,000 are affected annually by pulmonary embolism (PE).
Up to 25% of those patients with PE present with sudden death.
1 in 20 Americans are affected by hereditary thrombophilia – an inherited predisposition to blood clots.
52% of hospitalized adults are at risk of dangerous blood clots.
The recurrence rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is 30% over 10 years.

The good news is that positive lifestyle choices and optimal treatment in high-risk situations can save lives and prevent blood clots in a significant number of cases…

However, the bad news is that only 50% of those with DVT have symptoms, making this “Silent Killer” extremely difficult to diagnose. This is compounded by the fact that 74% of Americans have no knowledge about DVT, its symptoms or risk factors.

This is why raising awareness is critical. The National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia (NATT) is working to prevent, diagnose and treat thrombosis and thrombophilia through education, research, support and advocacy.

Stop the Clot Education Project

NATT combines the unique perspectives of health care providers, individuals afflicted with clotting disorders and community leaders who are passionate about this health care crisis. NATT’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board includes nationally recognized experts on thrombosis and thrombophilia.

NATT is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), thrombophilia centers, anticoagulation clinics, hemophilia treatment centers and the National Hemophilia Foundation on its Stop the Clot^TM Education Project, whose components include:

Stop the Clot Forum
Stop the Clot Support Groups
The Clotting Information and Resource Center (CIRC)
Educational Brochures
Train-the-Trainer workshops for healthcare professionals
Regional workshops for healthcare professionals
Regional chapter pilot

Why Get Involved to Help Stop the Clot?

Because it’s a question of life and death. You can help us save lives – “Stop the Clot” – and improve the quality of lives – by supporting our efforts. Find out how you can Volunteer or Donate.

Are you a blood clot patient looking for to learn more about treatment and prevention?

We have included extensive information on our site about prevention and treatment of blood clots and clotting disorders. Please explore our learn more section for special FAQ's, publications, and healthcare provider resources.

How Can We Make Our Site Better?

If you have a suggestion, comment or question, please feel free to contact us by clicking here and sending us an e-mail.

Our site is updated often so please check back for late breaking news and information.

NATT – NC Chapter Hosting
A Stop the Clot ^TM Forum on Blood Clots for Patients, their Families, Health Care Providers & the Public

Thursday, March 5, 2009, 6pm-9pm
First Lutheran Church
3600 W. Friendly Avenue
Greensboro, NC 27410

This event is FREE, but SPACE IS LIMITED.

Click here for details and registration.

Surgeon General Issues "Call to Action" to Prevent DVT and PE

The National Alliance for Thrombo

sis and Thrombophilia (NATT) today praised Acting Surgeon General Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, MD, MPH for issuing an historic “Call to Action” to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Click here for the full story.

NATT Medicare/Medicaid Victory!

CMS Announcement Will Lead to Many Saved Lives

On July 31, 2008, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that finances Medicare and Medicaid, in keeping with NATT’s position, announced dramatic steps to curtail medical errors that lead to blood clots in patients following total knee and hip replacement procedures by denying reimbursement for hospitals failing to follow blood clot prevention best practices by October 1, 2008. Click here to read full CMS release.

NATT URGES FEDS TO CUT HOSPITAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVENTABLE CLOTS

At Risk For Blood Clots - Hospital Patient

On June 12, 2008, NATT’s President, Randy Fenninger submitted a NATT Position Paper to the Federal Government containing specific recommendations to curb unnecessary blood clot events in hospitals. Blood clots, as Hospital Acquired Conditions (HAC), is a national problem that affects thousands of patients annually in the US. Click here to read the full story.

GINA Signed Into Law

President Bush May 21 signed into law a bill Bush Signs Bill (H.R. 493) that prohibits genetic discrimination in the workplace. NATT has supported this legislation and worked with a broad coalition to secure passage of the bill. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act prohibits employers from discharging, refusing to hire, or otherwise discriminating against employees on the basis of genetic information. It applies to employment agencies and labor unions as well. Read more about GINA by clicking here.

INR Home Monitoring Triumphs!

Good news! The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Patients!

Medicaid Services (CMS) is expanding its coverage of INR home monitoring to include patients on warfarin for DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and PE (pulmonary embolism), i.e., VTE (venous thromboembolism, blood clots in the legs and arms). Previously, CMS provided coverage only for home INR testing of patients with mechanical heart valves. Read more about INR Home Testing.

Other News

NATT News Letters

NATT newsletters offer insights on prevention, treatment, diagnosis and advocacy for blood clots and blood clotting disorders. Each issue is packed with practical peer reviewed information, patient stories, news on treatment, prevention and advocacy.

NATT newsletters are an excellent source for the information you need and can be downloaded right to your PC and saved as a PDF file for online viewing or printing. Check out our newsletters: