Louise Bannon: Today is World Heart Day, And It’s Deeply Personal For Me
Louise Bannon, Director of Membership, Marketing and External Relations of ISTH, shared on LinkedIn:
”Today is World Heart Day, and it’s deeply personal for me.
At a young age, my Dad died suddenly from a massive heart attack. Too young.
That loss changed the trajectory of my life and led me to dedicate much of my career to understanding bleeding and clotting disorders.
World Heart Day kicks off what I call “cardiovascular awareness season.”
World Thrombosis Day follows on October 13, reminding us that cardiovascular health encompasses our entire circulatory system: both arterial disease and venous thromboembolism (VTE) (DVT+PE=VTE) deserve our attention.
Key clotting risk factors: Prolonged immobility, recent surgery, cancer, pregnancy, hormonal medications, family history, obesity, smoking and age over 60.
- Warning signs of DVT: Leg swelling, pain/tenderness, warmth, or skin discoloration.
- Warning signs of PE: Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, unexplained cough.
These symptoms need immediate medical attention.
Know your risks. Recognize the signs. Don’t ignore symptoms. Behind every statistic is someone’s whole world.”

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