In an attempt to reduce the number of people dying from deep vein thrombosis and consequently, pulmonary embolism, Surgeon General Doctor Steven Galson along with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality announced on Monday the “Call to Action” campaign aimed at informing ordinary people on what causes DVT and how they can prevent it. The US Department of Health and Human Services supports the campaign under the name “The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism.”

DVT is a blood clot that forms in the body’s veins. Blood clots occur when blood thickens and clumps together. Most deep vein blood clots occur in the lower leg or thigh. They also can occur in other parts of the body. What makes a blood clot dangerous is that it can travel through the bloodstream to different organs of the body. The loose clot is called an embolus. When it travels to the lungs for example, it blocks blood flow causing pulmonary embolism. It can also cause heart attack or stroke.

According to the Society of International Radiology, about 600,000 new patients are diagnosed as having DVT every year and at least 100,000 of them die.

The bad part is that DVT is hard to diagnose. That is what makes it “a silent killer,” as Dr. Galson expressed himself at a meeting of the Venous Disease Coalition on Monday. And yet, once diagnosed, this disease can be treatable.

“The number of deaths attributable to blood clots is like having an entire city like Cambridge (Mass.) wiped out every year, over and over again. I don't think most people understand that this is a serious medical problem or what can be done to prevent it,” he said.

As part of the campaign, Dr. Galson wants to inform people about symptoms of DVT and about people most at risk of developing it. Symptoms of DVT can include swelling, calf or other leg pain, a warm spot on the leg, red or discolored skin on the leg, shortness of breath or pain when breathing deeply, a strange cough or fast heartbeat.

People most at risk of developing DVT include those who have had recent surgery, suffered a broken bone or a fall, or have been involved in a car crash. Also, pregnant women and women taking birth control pills or menopausal hormones are also a greatest risk of DVT. Persons who are immobile for long periods do not make any exception either. The risk increases with age (especially after the age of 65). Obesity, being a smoker or having a family history of DVT are also putting people at high risk of developing the disease.

All these information can be found in a 12-page booklet designed to assist consumers in identifying their risk for DVT and how they can act about it. Moreover, The Agency for Healthcare Research is issuing a 60-page DVT treatment-and-prevention guide for doctors and hospitals. The guide is entitled “Preventing Hospital-Acquired Venous Thromboembolism: A Guide for Effective Quality Improvement.”