Category: Blood Clots

COVID-19 Patients Are at a Greater Risk of Blood Clots

Editor’s note: Our understanding of COVID-19 symptomatology is evolving as the current pandemic unfolds. The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis has collected a number of studies and case reports on thrombosis in COVID-19 patients. The Journal of American College of Cardiology released a review of current understanding, citing many of the studies and case reports which are on the ISTH site. This COVID-19 pandemic challenges us to use current knowledge and innovate new approaches to care for patients diagnosed with COVID-19. This article seeks to summarize some of the current knowledge about thrombosis in COVID-19 patients, knowing that future studies and case reports will undoubtedly refine the statements made below. However, this is science, continually evolving and improving based on current understanding. With that, this article offers some insights about VTE in patients admitted to the hospital who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

By Michael Wong (Founder/Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety), Laurie Paletz, BSN PHN RN BC SCRN (Manager, Stroke Program Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai), and Thereza B. Ayad, RN, MSN, DNP, CNOR (Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Graduate School of Nursing; Surgical Services Clinical Staff Educator, North Shore Medical Center)

(reviewed by Sue Koob, MPA, Chief Executive Officer, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association and Pat Salber, MD, MBA, Editor-in-Chief, DoctorWeighsIn)

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Great COVID-19 Advice and Resources from Our Cardiovascular Partners

Great COVID-19 Advice and Resources from Our Cardiovascular Partners

If you have questions, the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety launched a free online service (the CV Virtual Clinic) where patients can speak with experienced registered nurses and get personalized answers to their questions. 

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Virtual Clinic to Help Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) Patients During COVID-19 Crisis

The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health and Safety (PPAHS) today announced the launch of a new, free virtual clinic and website, Virtual Patient Care, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, to meet the pressing needs of patients with atrial fibrillation (Afib), who are at the highest level of risk from stroke, and to help Afib patients cope with the difficulties imposed by COVID-19. 

“Under current COVID-19 conditions, patients face the burdens of social distancing and increased difficulty in reaching clinicians busy with emergencies. Telehealth has proven essential in addressing patients’ pressing health needs and ensuring good patient-to-clinician dialogue,” said Michael Wong, JD, Founder and Executive Director of the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety. “With today’s launch of Virtual Patient Care and the CV Virtual Clinic, vital telehealth benefits are now also extended to Afib patients in need.”

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Blood Clots Can Happen with Anyone, Don’t Think It Can’t Happen to You or Your Loved One

In celebration of World Thrombosis Day 2019, here are four much-watch videos on the need to assess all maternal patients for the risk of VTE and to provide the recommended prophylaxis treatment, depending on whether the mother is antepartum or postpartum.

Blood Clots Are Preventable in Pregnant Mothers

Blood clots are preventable in pregnant mothers, but to make this happen, all maternal patients need to be assessed for the risk of DVT and, if the patient is found to be at risk, the patient must be provided the recommended prophylactic treatments. In this video, Michael Wong, JD (Founder and Executive Director) discusses PPAHS put together an expert panel to develop the OB VTE Safety Recommendations. He encourages all maternal patients to be assessed and treated for VTE.

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Birth Control Pills

Editor’s note: In this editorial from the desk of PPAHS’s Executive Director, to help prevent blood clots PPAHS says that clinicians and their patients need to know who is at risk and be knowledgeable about the alternatives.

By Michael Wong, JD (Founder/Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

Birth Control Pills and Blood Clots 

Two women – one in the United States and one in Ireland – both recently experienced near-death experiences. Despite being separated by the Atlantic Ocean, both share a widespread practice – they both were taking birth control pills. According to a survey by the CDC, 62% of women of reproductive age are currently using contraception.

In the United States, WREG 3 News reports that 18-year-old Hailey Duncan from Memphis, Tennessee “was rushed to Baptist after she suffered a pulmonary embolism likely caused by birth control pills that blocked off most of the blood flow to her lungs. She went into cardiac arrest several times on the way to the hospital.”

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Maternal Death: the Rising National Crisis of Maternal Morbidity and Mortality

In this article, Niran S. Al-Agba, MD (Mom, pediatrician, and Associate Editor at The Deductible); Michael Wong, JD (Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety) and John Bianchi (Vice President, Finn Partners) discuss the maternal morbidity and mortality epidemic in the US. Seeking to stem this epidemic, The Preventing Maternal Deaths Act was recently signed into law.

Now, the question is how to reduce the national crisis of maternal morbidity and mortality. To reverse increasing maternal mortality, prioritizing venous thromboembolism — the leading medical cause of maternal death in pregnancy — will help lower maternal morbidity and mortality.

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Early Detection of AFib: Empowering Patients

PPAHS is proud to support and participate in WomenHeart’s National AFib Month Screening Campaign. PPAHS asks clinicians to please screen for AFib.

By WomenHeart (WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) patient advocacy organization with thousands of members nationwide, including women heart patients and their families, health care providers, advocates and consumers committed to helping women live longer, healthier lives. WomenHeart supports, educates and advocates on behalf of the nearly 48 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease.)

Approximately 1.5 million American women live with atrial fibrillation (AFib), which is an irregular heartbeat. One of the most effective means of detection of AFib is through “opportunistic screenings” with primary care providers, these screenings identify more people with AFib than arranged screenings.

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Atrial Fibrillation: Early Detection and Risk Reduction

In this guest post by Drs. Nidhi Madan and Annabelle Volgman discuss why early detection of AFib can lead to a significant reduction of risk.

Nidhi Madan, MD, MPH; Annabelle S. Volgman, MD, FACC, FAHA 

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with its prevalence projected to increase from 5.2 million in 2010 to 12.1 million cases in 2030 in the United States.1 AFib confers a higher risk of stroke, heart failure, cognitive decline and mortality.2,3 Early identification of AFib is imperative to reduce morbidity and mortality. Several factors cause structural and electrical remodeling of the atria resulting in AFIB. Established non-modifiable risk factors for AFib include advanced age and male sex. Female sex is a risk factor for strokes for patients with AFib. Other modifiable risk factors include smoking, alcohol use, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, myocardial infarction, valve disease and heart failure.

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Participate in WomenHeart’s National AFib Month Screening Campaign

PPAHS is proud to support and participate in WomenHeart’s National AFib Month Screening Campaign. PPAHS asks clinicians to please screen for AFib.

By WomenHeart (WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) patient advocacy organization with thousands of members nationwide, including women heart patients and their families, health care providers, advocates and consumers committed to helping women live longer, healthier lives. WomenHeart supports, educates and advocates on behalf of the nearly 48 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease.)

Studies show that early detection of AFib can reduce an individual’s risk of stroke by as much as 60 percent. WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, is launching the “Nationwide AFib Month Opportunistic Screening Initiative.”

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