One Condition Many Faces

Introduction

Telling the story

This website is dedicated to those who live with the challenges of thrombosis.

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), poses a significant risk of morbidity and mortality, often underestimated or overlooked by many. Through the stories of individuals who have experienced this condition, we aim to raise awareness, educate others about preventive measures, and highlight the importance of proper management.
By sharing your own story, you can play a crucial role in building a strong community and helping others recognize the signs, risks and impact of VTE.

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Read about their stories

Personal Stories

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Get informed

Risks and prevention

What is a blood clot?

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Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins.

Blood clots are the body’s natural response to a cut or break and ensure wounds do not bleed excessively. Unfortunately, sometimes unwanted large blood clots form in the deep veins (most often the legs but they can form anywhere).

60% of clots happen in hospital or in the 90 days following admission.

Blood clots can be very serious - but there are effective treatments to deal with them help prevent them.

Signs and symptoms

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A blood clot can occur in anyone and may have few or no obvious signs and symptoms, therefore if you are in doubt, get checked out and ask, “Could this be a blood clot?”

Signs and symptoms for a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may include:

Pain, most commonly in one leg or tenderness
Sometimes swelling in the affected limb
Occasionally reddish/blue skin discolouration
The area may be warm to touch

Signs and symptoms for a pulmonary embolism (PE) can include:

Sudden shortness of breath
Unexplained breathlessness (for example when doing something you can usually do without becoming breathless)
Chest pain that can be sharp or stabbing and may get worse with deep breaths
A rapid heart rate
Unexplained cough, sometimes with blood-streaked mucus
Coughing up blood
Sudden collapse
A rapid heart rate

If you experience these signs or symptoms, you should seek urgent medical attention

Prevention

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You can reduce your risk of developing a blood clot by making changes to your lifestyle:

Keep moving – avoid long periods of immobility such as sitting for many hours
Get up and walk around at least every 90 minutes
Keep well hydrated
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Take regular exercise
Maintain a healthy weight
Avoid smoking
Let any doctor/nurse or other clinician who may be managing your health, know if you have had a blood clot, in case medication is advised

If you think you may be at risk of a blood clot, talk to your doctor / clinician

You have a higher chance of getting a clot in hospital than on an aeroplane!

Am I at Risk?

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The most common risk factors for thrombosis are:

Recent hospitalisation for illness or surgery and up to 90 days following discharge.
Previous history of thrombosis.
Recent major surgery, particularly of the pelvis, abdomen, hip, knee, (up to 90 days post discharge).
Severe trauma, such as a car accident.
Injury to a vein that may have been caused by a broken bone or severe muscle injury.
An active cancer and cancer treatments.
The contraceptive pill for birth control in particular those that contain oestrogen, such as the pill, patch or ring.
Pregnancy, (including the six weeks after the baby is born).
Oral (tablet form) hormone therapy (HRT), which contains oral oestrogen.
A family history of blood clots.
Obesity.
Long-term bed rest.
Long periods of inactivity including sitting for long periods of time, especially with legs crossed

It is important that you discuss this with your doctor if any of these risk factors apply to you.

Our Cause

We want things to change

Thrombosis Awareness Initiative is a new initiative aimed at addressing the knowledge gap in Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) among medically ill patients, with the goal of improving healthcare outcomes. Increasing education and awareness about VTE can empower individuals to take timely preventive action and manage symptoms more effectively.

The rationale for this initiative stems from the identified gap in awareness and understanding both among healthcare providers and general population regarding VTE prevention, diagnosis, and management strategies.

The project’s primary objective is to share accurate, validated information about various medical conditions associated with thrombosis through a visually engaging communication campaign. This approach will deliver accessible content—endorsed by both patients and healthcare professionals—designed to improve understanding of patient management for those at risk of thrombosis, with a focus on the following goals:

The objectives of the program are:

Raise awareness of VTE risk factors and symptoms.
Educate patients on prevention strategies.
Promote patient advocacy and encourage proactive VTE risk screening by healthcare providers.
Share information on treatment options for those at risk

Based on these premises, the project 'One Condition ⎯ Many Faces' therefore aims to:

To enhance engagement, the awareness campaign highlights the perspectives of relatable characters, each representing a typical thrombosis-risk patient.
We use simple, clear language to ensure accessibility for a broad audience, including both healthcare professionals and the general public.

All content is developed by expert physicians and healthcare professionals in collaboration with European patient associations, ensuring that it is both evidence-based, easily understood and functional to the objective of an engaging awareness campaign.

How the project strives to achieve this: