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December e-Newsletter

DECEMBER E-NEWSLETTER: WISHING YOU A HAPPY & HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON

This year has been a challenge, particularly in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and like so …

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December e-Newsletter | Seasons Greetings from NBCA

This time of year is filed with joy, as we take part in holiday festivities and traditions with …

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IU Health Methodist Hospital Named Indiana’s First NBCA VTE Center of Excellence™

The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) is proud to announce IU Health Methodist Hospital as Indiana’s first NBCA Venous Thromboembolism…

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Federal Cuts Eliminate Blood Clot Education Funding: NBCA Launches Emergency Fundraising Campaign

The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) is calling on its community of survivors, families, and advocates to help fill a…

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Advancing blood clot awareness, prevention, diagnosis & treatments to #stoptheclot. Submit your story @ link below ⬇️ Our podcast: Taking a Breath 🎙️

🩸 Today is Factor V Leiden Awareness Day! 🩸F

🩸 Today is Factor V Leiden Awareness Day! 🩸Factor V Leiden is a common genetic mutation that can increase your risk of blood clots.

Here’s how it works:

Your body has a built-in system that helps your blood clot when you're injured, then stops the clotting once you've healed. One of the key proteins in this process is called factor V.

People with factor V Leiden have a mutation in the gene that makes this protein. The mutation causes factor V to stay active longer than it should, meaning the clotting process doesn’t switch off like it normally would. This raises the risk of developing dangerous blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

🧬 What does this mean for people with factor V Leiden?

- If you inherit one mutated gene (heterozygous), your risk is mildly increased.
- If you inherit two mutated genes (homozygous), your risk is significantly higher.

🔍 Facts:

- 1 in 20 (5%) people of European descent have the heterozygous form.
- 1 in 5,000 people have the homozygous form.

Despite the increased risk, only about 10% of people with factor V Leiden develop blood clots.

For women, clotting risks are higher during pregnancy, when taking birth control, or using hormone replacement therapy.

🔗 Learn more at the link in bio.

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #FactorVLeiden #FactorVLeidenAwarenessDay #KnowYourRisk #VTE

Kevin’s body was in crisis. He had clots in his

Kevin’s body was in crisis. He had clots in his lungs, liver, intestines, and the largest vein in his body. It took three hospitals before anyone realized how serious it was.

Now he's learning to live with the long-term effects and speaking out so others don’t get dismissed like he was.

🔗Read his full story and other stories at the link in bio.

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #APS #Sepsis #IVCClot #BloodClotAwareness

Have questions about blood clots? We’ve got answ

Have questions about blood clots? We’ve got answers.

From diagnosis and recovery to exercise, genetics, and anticoagulants, our expert-reviewed FAQ covers it all.

Whether you're newly diagnosed or years into your journey, this resource can help you make informed decisions and feel more confident about your health.

Explore answers to the most common questions from real patients, reviewed by NBCA’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. 🔗in bio.

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #VTE #BloodClotFAQs #FrequentlyAskedQuestions #BloodClotAwareness

In 2014, after gallbladder surgery, Michael collap

In 2014, after gallbladder surgery, Michael collapsed and was diagnosed with a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. Today, he’s a proud adoptive dad, retired, and grateful for a second chance at life.

👉Read Michael’s full story and find more stories here: stoptheclot.org/patient-stories

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #Surgery #PulmonaryEmbolism #BloodClotAwareness

If you help care for an older adult — a parent,

If you help care for an older adult — a parent, partner, friend, or family member — you already know how important it is to stay informed about health risks that come with age.

One risk that often goes overlooked? Blood clots. As we age, the risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) increases, but there are steps caregivers can take to help reduce these risks.

Join us for our August PEP Talk to learn more about:

- Why age increases the risk for blood clots
- How to recognize warning signs early
- Practical steps caregivers and families can take to help prevent them

This is a conversation designed not just for patients, but for the people who love and care for them.

Join us Tuesday, August 12 at 7 p.m. ET. 🔗 Register at the link in bio.

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #VTE #PEPTalk #BloodClotWebinar #BloodClotAwareness #BloodClotEducation

🚨 Urgent Call to Action 🚨 The fight against

🚨 Urgent Call to Action 🚨

The fight against blood clots faces a new and urgent challenge. Following sweeping federal health cuts this spring, crucial public health funding that supported NBCA’s efforts to educate, raise awareness, and save lives has been eliminated. This means more people will die from preventable blood clots.

NBCA is turning to the strength of its community for support. Volunteer President Leslie Lake has pledged to personally match every gift, up to $100,000, through September 30 — marking the largest individual gift in NBCA’s history.

With your help, NBCA can raise $100,000 and unlock an additional $100,000 in matching funds, totaling $200,000 to keep lifesaving education, advocacy, and resources available to those who need them most.

This is a critical moment. If NBCA has helped you or someone you love, now is the time to ensure this vital work continues. 🔗Donate today and DOUBLE your impact: donate.stoptheclot.org/campaign/690354/donate?utm_source=facebook

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #BloodClotAwareness #BloodClotFunding

🏅Countdown to race day! In November, Team Stop

🏅Countdown to race day! In November, Team Stop the Clot will hit the streets for 2025 TCS New York City Marathon and their training is in high gear.

Over the next three months, we’re introducing you to the inspiring runners who are clocking the miles, sharing their stories, and raising funds for NBCA.

🏃‍♂️ Claire Eberle of New Providence, NJ explains why she is running:

“On August 15, 2018, I was 21 years old when I almost died from a pulmonary embolism while on a family vacation. At the time, I was an active college athlete that didn't see the warning signs of blood clots. I owe my life to my sister who insisted I go get checked out for the back pain and heart-attack symptoms I was experiencing. This moment of my life has completely changed the way I view not only my health but my family's as well. I’m honored to run for my past self and for those who had endured similar experiences.”

🔗 Support Claire as she trains for the 2025 NYC Marathon with Team Stop the Clot! Leave an encouraging comment or donate to her fundraising effort at the link in bio.

#stoptheclot #teamstoptheclot #bloodclots #nycmarathon #bloodclotawareness #bloodclotprevention

🎉 Great news for blood clot patients in Indiana

🎉 Great news for blood clot patients in Indiana!

The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) is proud to announce IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis as the state’s first NBCA Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Center of Excellence™, joining a growing national network dedicated to excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of blood clots.

This recognition reflects the outstanding multidisciplinary efforts across IU Health, including teams at both Methodist and University hospitals. Their collaboration has been instrumental in achieving the high standards required for this designation. As IU Health prepares to integrate these hospitals into a single, state-of-the-art facility, this designation will carry forward — underscoring a continued commitment to excellence in VTE care.

“This designation reflects our team's tireless efforts to implement timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and long-term prevention strategies for patients at risk of blood clots,” said Paul Haste, MD. “We could not be more excited to partner with NBCA to continue this important work improving care for patients throughout the state of Indiana.”

Congratulations to IU Health Methodist Hospital for this well-deserved honor. 👏

Learn more about NBCA’s VTE Centers of Excellence at the link in bio.

@iu_health #StopTheClot #BloodClots #VTE #VTECentersOfExcellence #CentersOfExcellence #COE #HospitalExcellence #BloodClotAwareness

In light of President Donald Trump’s recent diag

In light of President Donald Trump’s recent diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), many are wondering if it could be related to blood clots or post-thrombotic syndrome.

Dr. Suman Wasan of UNC Chapel Hill, who served as the expert for our July PEP Talk on compression, explains that CVI happens when the valves in the leg veins weaken, causing blood to pool and ankles to swell, which is often noticeable at the sock line.

While it’s commonly due to aging, obesity, or prolonged standing, it can also result from past blood clots that damage the valves and scar the veins. This is known as post thrombotic syndrome (PTS), the more specific name for CVI in people with a history of blood clots.

To manage CVI:

✔️ Elevate your legs
✔️ Move often
✔️ Wear compression socks

If you’ve experienced CVI, how did you manage it? Tell us in the comments.

#StopTheClot #CVI #ChronicVenousInsufficiency #BloodClots

Midwest magic is in the works! The National Blood

Midwest magic is in the works! The National Blood Clot Alliance is proud to add another medical institution to its VTE Centers of Excellence (COE) this week.

The designation represents a growing network of endorsed institutions and organizations dedicated to exceptional patient-centered VTE care.

Start your engines and stay tuned for the announcement tomorrow! Any guesses? Leave them in the comments.

🔗 More about NBCA’s VTE Centers of Excellence at the link in bio.

#StopTheClot #NBCAVTECentersOfExcellence #NBCAVTECOE #BloodClotExcellence

Donna, a nurse, thought her pain was something min

Donna, a nurse, thought her pain was something minor, but it turned out to be a bilateral pulmonary embolism (PE). After frequent travel and dehydration, she was diagnosed with a prothrombin gene mutation (factor II).

Her advice: Listen to your body and stay hydrated. 👉 Read Donna’s full story.

More stories: Link in bio.

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #ProthrombinGeneMutation #FactorII #PulmonaryEmbolism #BloodClotAwareness

Trey Smith, pulmonary embolism survivor and Kansas

Trey Smith, pulmonary embolism survivor and Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman, signed a record-breaking 4-year, $94 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid offensive guard in NFL history.

Smith’s journey is remarkable — after missing part of college due to blood clots in his lungs, he overcame the odds to become a key player and back-to-back Super Bowl champion.

Congratulations, Trey!

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #PulmonaryEmbolism #TreySmith #KansasCityChiefs

When federal health funding was cut this spring, N

When federal health funding was cut this spring, NBCA lost a vital partner in our fight against blood clots. The CDC’s Division of Blood Disorders and Human Genomics, which supported NBCA’s life-saving public health education and awareness programs for more than two decades, has been dismantled.

Now, we’re turning to our community to help us continue this important work. NBCA Volunteer President Leslie Lake will match every gift through Sept. 30, up to $100,000 — the largest individual match in NBCA’s history.

Your donation today helps ensure we can keep providing free trusted resources, education, and support for those affected by blood clots.

Donate now to double your impact: Link in bio.

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #BloodClotAwareness #BloodClotFunding

At 25, while training for the NYC Marathon, Sam th

At 25, while training for the NYC Marathon, Sam thought he had a stomach bug, but it turned out to be multiple blood clots in his lungs and near his liver. After emergency surgeries and seven weeks in the ICU, Sam is focused on recovery and raising awareness that blood clots can happen to anyone.

👈 Read his full story

🔗 More stories: Link in bio.

#StopTheClot #StopTheClotStory #BloodClots #PulmonaryEmbolism #BloodClot Awareness

🩸 "I donated because... This information could

🩸 "I donated because... This information could have saved me from almost dying and having lasting damage—I know that knowledge is important. Having NBCA’s Facebook page when I got out of the hospital and returned to work with a whole new life in front of me really helped keep my sanity together." — April from Arizona

Now more than ever, your support matters. Join us in funding life-saving education, patient resources, and community outreach through NBCA this summer. Every dollar you give to the campaign before September 30 will be matched by NBCA Volunteer President Leslie Lake, up to $100,000!

Donate today to DOUBLE your impact and make a lifesaving difference: 🔗 in bio.

#StopTheClot

We’re thrilled to announce Dr. Anna Parks, assis

We’re thrilled to announce Dr. Anna Parks, assistant professor in the Division of Hematology & Hematologic Malignancies at the University of Utah and a faculty member of the Center on Aging, as our clinical guest for August’s PEP Talk on aging and blood clots.

Dr. Parks, who also serves on our Council of Emerging Researchers in Thrombosis (CERT), was recently awarded the @nihgov’s premier career development award, the prestigious Paul B. Beeson Award, to support her research, “Advancing Patient-Centered Decision Making in Older Adults with VTE.”

Dr. Parks will help us understand why age is a risk factor for blood clots and what steps can you take to protect yourself. We hope you’ll join us Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. ET!

🔗Register: Link in bio.

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #VTE #PEPTalk #BloodClotWebinar #BloodClotAwareness #BloodClotEducation

🎙️ New Episode Alert! 🎙️Season 2, Episod

🎙️ New Episode Alert! 🎙️Season 2, Episode 11 of Taking a Breath: A Stop the Clot podcast is now available on all major podcast platforms.

In this episode, listeners hear from Jevon Dewand, an artist whose multifaceted career spans gospel, R&B, and rap music, producing, acting, and motivational speaking.

Jevon describes going to urgent care about a pain in his leg and getting diagnosed with a DVT. He was about to be sent home with blood thinners when the doctor asked if he had any other symptoms.

“I said, ‘Yeah, sometimes when I’m going up the steps I can’t breathe,” Jevon said. “She said, ‘What? Say that again.’ I said that I couldn’t breathe, and she said, ‘Go to the hospital right now.’”

When he was told he had five pulmonary emboli (PE), he immediately thought of his brother, who died several years ago of a PE.

Thank you, Jevon, for sharing your poignant story and helping raise awareness. Listen to his journey at the link in bio or wherever you get your podcasts.

@jevondewand #StopTheClot #BloodClots #PE #PulmonaryEmbolism #VTE #TakingABreath #BloodClotPodcast #BloodClotSurvivorStory

🏅Countdown to race day! In November, Team Stop

🏅Countdown to race day! In November, Team Stop the Clot will hit the streets for 2025 TCS New York City Marathon and their training is in high gear.

Over the next four months, we’re introducing you to the inspiring runners who are clocking the miles, sharing their stories, and raising funds for NBCA.

🏃‍♂️ Kevin Bramble of of Belmont, MI explains why he’s running:

“Blood clots kill more people each year than HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and motor vehicle accidents combined! I have run 30 marathons, including 21 Boston Marathons. I have a history of deep vein thrombosis and I’m on a maintenance dose of rivaroxaban. I actually ran the Boston Marathon not knowing that the pain in my calf was actually a blood clot.”

Support Kevin as he trains for the 2025 NYC Marathon with Team Stop the Clot! 🔗Leave an encouraging comment or donate to his fundraising effort: donate.stoptheclot.org/fundraiser/6225861

#stoptheclot #teamstoptheclot #bloodclots #nycmarathon #bloodclotawareness #bloodclotprevention

Thank you to everyone who joined our July PEP Talk

Thank you to everyone who joined our July PEP Talk on compression, which featured Dr. Suman Wasan of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In this clip, Dr. Wasan explains that compression socks are most effective in preventing post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), a long-term complication that can happen after deep vein thrombosis.

Some evidence suggests that compression may also help to prevent DVTs, but more research is needed.

“People do ask, if I wear them, does it reduce my risk of another clot?” Dr. Wasan said. “The evidence points to it, but it’s much more anecdotal because it just hasn’t been studied as well as this (PTS) has.”

Watch the full recording and explore other PEP Talks at the link in bio and subscribe!

Join us for our next discussion on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. as we explore how age affects blood clot risk and steps to reduce it. Register (link in bio) https://bit.ly/Aug2025PEPTalk

(PEP Talk should not be considered as medical advice. Please consult directly with your healthcare provider for medical advice.)

#StopTheClot #Compression #PEPTalk #BloodClotWebinar #BloodClotEducation #BloodClotAwareness

🚨 Pregnant and planning a road trip? This story

🚨 Pregnant and planning a road trip? This story might save a life.

At 30 weeks along, Kayley slept through a 10-hour overnight drive, resulting in a DVT and PE. Pregnancy and long travel both increase your risk for blood clots. Know the signs. Speak up. Keep asking questions. Your life may depend on it.

👉 Read Kayley’s’s full story.

🔗 More patient stories: Link in bio.

#StopTheClot #StopTheClotStory #BloodClots #PulmonaryEmbolism #DVT #Pregnancy

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