Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism
According to the CDC, approximately 600,000 to 1,000,000 people per year experience deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. About 30% of people who have a deep vein thrombosis are at risk of experiencing a subsequent clotting episode. Of those who experience a deep vein thrombosis, nearly one third develop post-thrombotic syndrome. The symptoms of this chronic disabling condition include swelling, pain, discoloration, and skin changes of the affected limb.
Many episodes of deep vein thrombosis are treatable, with minimal permanent damage, if diagnosed accurately and early.
An estimated 60,000-100,000 Americans die of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism each year. Because fewer than 50% of the people with pulmonary embolism have symptoms, some studies suggest that the actual numbers of affected individuals may be much higher; for this reason, estimates of the number of people with pulmonary embolism are less reliable than those for deep vein thrombosis.
Learn more about clotting in children