From head to toe, take control:
Prevent thrombosis. Protect your health.
Prevent thrombosis. Protect your health.
Thrombosis prevention and patient empowerment
Blood clots (thrombosis) represent a critical health threat that intersects with many serious medical conditions. Thrombosis, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), significantly increases the risk of life-threatening complications in patients with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic conditions.
Our theme, From Head to Toe, Take Control: Prevent Thrombosis, Protect Your Health, emphasizes these important connections to empower individuals with knowledge and blood clot prevention strategies for better health outcomes.
In 2026, World Thrombosis Day is focusing on women’s health to raise awareness of the unique blood clot risk factors women face at every stage of life, including pregnancy, hormonal therapies and reproductive health conditions. Greater awareness of these risks is essential to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for women worldwide.
Thrombosis is a leading underlying cause of the world’s most devastating cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke and venous thromboembolism (VTE), yet public awareness remains critically low. Many people don’t realize that certain medical conditions, treatments and lifestyle factors dramatically increase their blood clot risk, making prevention strategies essential for protecting their health and improving treatment outcomes.
Why this matters:
Women are disproportionately affected by blood clot disorders, yet many never receive a timely diagnosis. Hormonal contraception, pregnancy, postpartum recovery and reproductive health disorders can all elevate the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in ways that demand greater awareness.
For World Thrombosis Day 2026, the campaign puts women and blood clots at the center of the conversation, calling on healthcare professionals, advocates and patients to recognize these risks and take action on blood clot prevention from head to toe.
Blood clot risks in women: What you need to know
Blood clots (thrombosis) are a serious and often underrecognized health threat for women. Thrombosis is a leading cause of heart attack, stroke and venous thromboembolism (VTE), and women face unique risks that change throughout their lives.
Key risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in women include:¹
- Hormonal contraception and hormone therapies²
- Pregnancy and postpartum recovery
- Reproductive health conditions such as antiphospholipid syndrome
- Inherited clotting disorders such as thrombophilia
Greater awareness of these risks is essential to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes. Our theme, From Head to Toe, Take Control: Prevent Thrombosis, Protect Your Health, empowers women and their care teams to take action.
Thrombosis prevention: A missing link in managing chronic diseases
Research shows that:
- Patients with cancer are up to four times more likely to develop blood clots.
- Individuals with cancer, diabetes, obesity and heart disease face significantly higher risks of thrombosis.
- Many life-threatening clots occur in patients already under medical care for other diseases.
By understanding these connections, patients and healthcare providers can implement comprehensive prevention strategies to reduce risks and improve outcomes.
Preventing blood clots improves overall health
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), the most common forms of venous thromboembolism, are largely preventable through awareness and proactive health management. Thrombosis prevention also improves health outcomes for:
- Heart disease and stroke risk – Blood clot prevention supports cardiovascular health.
- Cancer treatment – Addressing thrombosis risks improves cancer care outcomes.
- Diabetes management – Prevention strategies complement diabetes care.
- Obesity-related health concerns – Managing thrombosis risk enhances overall well-being.
Resources for healthcare professionals across all specialties
The campaign provides tailored resources for:
- Thrombosis specialists – Tools to lead collaborative care teams and extend expertise across medical specialties.
- Healthcare professionals in other fields – Guidelines for incorporating thrombosis risk assessment into routine patient care. Information for oncologists, cardiologists, women’s health professionals and more.
- Policymakers – Evidence-based recommendations for integrating thrombosis prevention into public health strategies.
From Head to Toe, Take Control underscores that thrombosis prevention is essential for all patients and healthcare providers. By working together across medical specialties, we can integrate blood clot prevention into comprehensive health strategies, saving lives and improving long-term health outcomes.
Support the Campaign
Elevate your organization’s visibility in the global healthcare community by becoming a supporter of the World Thrombosis Day campaign. Your partnership supports critical education and advocacy initiatives while connecting your brand with healthcare professionals and patients worldwide. Explore our spupport opportunities today to make a meaningful impact in thrombosis awareness and prevention.
Share your story
Share your personal blood clot experience with the World Thrombosis Day campaign to help educate and inspire others facing similar challenges. Your story can provide hope, raise awareness about risk factors and potentially save lives. Join our global community of survivors and advocates by submitting your story today
Page references:
¹Thornburg KL, et al. “Thromboembolism in Pregnancy.” Medscape. Updated June 2025. Available at: emedicine.medscape.com/article/2056380. See also: Overcash RT, et al. “Venous Thromboembolism during Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: Risk Factors, Diagnostic Testing, and Treatment.” Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology. PMC10042329. 2023.
²Trenor CC, Chung RJ, et al. “Hormonal Contraception and Thrombotic Risk: A Multidisciplinary Approach.” Pediatrics. 2011;127(2):347–357. PMC3025417. See also: American Society for Reproductive Medicine. “Combined Hormonal Contraception and the Risk of Venous Thromboembolism: A Guideline.” Fertility and Sterility. 2017;107(1):43–51.
3Killian M, van Mens TE. “Risk of Thrombosis, Pregnancy Morbidity or Death in Antiphospholipid Syndrome.” Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2022. PMC8921454. See also: Mouton S, et al. “Diagnosis and Management of Antiphospholipid Syndrome.” BMJ. 2024. PMC11703567.
