-- Honors Memory of Fallen NBC News Correspondent David Bloom--

Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) yesterday moved to raise

public awareness of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)—a condition that affects up to two

million Americans annually, according to the American Heart Association. Among

the many victims was NBC News Correspondent David Bloom. While covering the

war in Iraq, Bloom was stricken with a fatal pulmonary embolism (PE), a

complication of DVT

“DVT strikes millions unknowingly each year," Senator Specter said. “With this

resolution, we hope to raise public awareness for DVT-a serious yet preventable

condition-so that others, like David Bloom, will not suffer at its hand.”

Of those who develop PE, up to 200,000 will die each year, which is more than from

breast cancer and AIDS combined. Yet, most Americans (74 percent) have little or

no awareness of DVT, according to a national survey sponsored by the American

Public Health Association.

“This little-known condition hospitalizes up to 600,000 people each year, causing

additional healthcare costs of more than $20,000 per person, per case,” said Senator

to raise awareness, we’ll save health care costs, but more importantly, we’ll save

lives.”

Be informed!! There are risks involved with long distance travel and sitting immobile for long periods of time.  The deep veins in the legs are the width of a thumb, and 12 to 18 inches long.  The role of the veins is to carry blood from the leg to the heart.  Ordinary walking and exercise allow calf muscles to act as a pump to return blood to the heart.  But when sitting for long periods, such as on a plane or in the car, the blood becomes static.  This can result in blood clots, which can travel from the leg to the heart, causing serious illness or death.  Doctors say one way that coach class syndrome can be prevented is with medical compression stockings that work by applying maximum pressure at the ankle, progressively decreasing in pressure toward the top of the leg.  The pressure compresses leg veins and increases blood flow out of the leg, thus helping to prevent clot formation.  To avoid this fatal risk, please Click below to order your travel socks today.

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