WASHINGTON — Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) welcomed the unanimous Senate passage of their resolution recognizing the month of March as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE) Awareness Month.
“Blood clots affect hundreds of thousands of Americans each year,” said Grassley, who received the 2023 Congressional Blood Clot Champion Award from the National Blood Clot Alliance for his efforts to raise public awareness around DVT and PE.
“While these conditions can be life-threatening, they are preventable and treatable,” Grassley said. “I encourage all Americans to know their risk factors and take the necessary steps to prevent blood clots and preserve their health.”
Lujan said he is proud that the Senate passed the resolution unanimously.
“As a stroke survivor, I know how important it is to work to raise public awareness about reducing your risk for serious health events,” Lujan said. “DVT is preventable and with continued public awareness of prevention measures and knowledge of the signs and symptoms of blood clots, people can escape these serious health consequences.”
Des Moines resident Todd Robertson, who is also the National Blood Clot Alliance patient liaison and member of the Board of Directors, thanked Senators Grassley and Lujan for their bipartisan leadership in raising awareness of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism for the third straight year.
“I am passionate about raising awareness of the risk of blood clots, as someone who has suffered from six blood clots, including a close call with pulmonary embolism,” Robertson said. “Right now, only 6 percent of Americans know what a blood clot is, so it is critical that more Americans become aware of their risks and take steps to prevent and treat blood clots, which can be life-threatening.”
DVT is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the body, such as in the arm, abdomen, around the brain and most commonly in the leg. A potentially life-threatening complication of DVT is pulmonary embolism (PE), in which a blood clot breaks off, travels through the bloodstream and lodges in the lung.
DVT and PE are serious but often preventable medical conditions that affect as many as 900,000 Americans each year. Cancer patients often face DVT and PE complications. Pregnancy can also increase the risk of DVT and PE. Hospitalization is also a leading cause of DVT and PE.
Learn more about the signs and symptoms of blood clots.
Pictured: Todd Robertson (left) presenting NBCA’s 2023 Congressional Blood Clot Champion Award to Chuck Grassley (right) for his efforts in raising public awareness around DVT and PE.
