Did you know?
· Each year, more people lose their lives to blood clots than AIDS, breast cancer, and motor vehicle accidents combined.
· Blood clots do not discriminate. They can and do affect everyone: From children to senior citizens, professional athletes to mothers, women and men.
· The risk of blood clots does not go away in the presence of the pandemic, but rather the need has grown substantially. Doctors are seeing up to 1 in every 3 critically ill COVID patients developing a blood clot.
This year I will be running the 50th NYC Marathon and raising funds to support the National Blood Clot Alliance.
The cause is very close to my heart as my father and I both share a blood disorder called Factor V Leiden, which means we clot more easily than most people. Had my dad not suffered a heart attack a decade ago, we might never have known this genetic disorder ran in our family. Clots have had a major impact on several family members so this year I run for my dad, my uncle, and my Grandparents.
I want to support the work of NBCA not only because they have been a valuable resource for my dad and I as we learn more about our disorder, but also because they are doing important research into the high development of clots in COVID-19 patients. The more we know the better we can treat. And that research needs funds. So please consider donating any amount!
I know not everyone is able to donate, but my hope is that if you are reading this you will now know more to be alert to the signs of blood clots, which just may save the life of you or someone you know.
SYMPTOMS OF A BLOOD CLOT IN THE ARM OR LEG MAY INCLUDE:
Swelling
Pain or tenderness not caused by injury
Skin that is warm to the touch
Redness or discoloration of the skin
SYMPTOMS OF A BLOOD CLOT IN THE LUNG MAY INCLUDE:
Difficulty breathing
Chest pain that worsens with a deep breath
Coughing, or coughing up blood
Faster than normal or irregular heartbeat
To learn more about the NBCA, click here
To learn more about Factor V Leiden, click here
