LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim March 2015, as Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in participating in
months of awareness of important health issues; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2015, as Deep Vein Thrombosis
Awareness Month in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, A national public health crisis, deep vein thrombosis affects
about two million Americans annually, and up to 600,000 people in the
United States are hospitalized each year; and
WHEREAS, Commonly referred to as DVT, deep vein thrombosis occurs when
a blood clot develops in a deep vein, usually in the lower limbs; a
complication, pulmonary embolism, may occur when a fragment of a blood
clot breaks loose from the wall of the vein, migrates to the lungs and
blocks a pulmonary artery or one of its branches; and
WHEREAS, Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis may include pain, swelling,
tenderness, discoloration or redness of the affected area, and skin that
is warm to the touch; however, as many as half of all episodes produce
minimal symptoms or are completely "silent"; and
WHEREAS, Because a number of other conditions, including muscle
strains, skin infections, and phlebitis display symptoms similar to
those of deep vein thrombosis, the condition may be difficult to diag-
nose without specific tests; and
WHEREAS, Deep vein thrombosis is generally caused by a combination of
two or three underlying conditions: slow or sluggish blood flow through
a deep vein, a tendency for a person's blood to clot quickly and/or
irritation or inflammation of the inner lining of the vein; and
WHEREAS, There are a variety of settings in which deep vein thrombosis
can occur; individuals on bed rest or confined and unable to walk are
highly susceptible, as well as those who have a family history or
specific medical conditions, including congestive heart failure, severe
obesity, chronic respiratory failure, a history of smoking, varicose
veins, pregnancy and estrogen treatment; and
WHEREAS, According to a U.S. multi-center study, only one-third of
hospitalized patients with risk factors for blood clots received preven-
tive treatment; without preventive treatment, up to 60 percent of
patients who undergo total hip replacement surgery may develop deep vein
thrombosis; and
WHEREAS, Cancer patients undergoing surgical procedures have at least
twice the risk of postoperative deep vein thrombosis and more than three
times the risk of fatal pulmonary embolism as non-cancer patients under-
going similar procedures; and
WHEREAS, In the elderly, deep vein thrombosis is associated with a 21
percent one-year mortality rate, and pulmonary embolism is associated
with a 39 percent one-year mortality rate; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, pulmonary embolism is the leading cause of
maternal death associated with childbirth; a woman's risk of developing
a vein thrombosis embolism is six times greater when she is pregnant;
and
WHEREAS, Of those who develop pulmonary embolism, up to 300,000 will
die each year; possibly the most common preventable cause of hospital
death in the United States, more people die from it than from breast
cancer and AIDS combined; and
WHEREAS, It is in the interest of New York State to recognize the
achievements made and to continue these efforts by promoting the aware-

ness and fostering the understanding of deep vein thrombosis; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2015, as Deep
Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.