Video: Moms Raise 'Red Flag' About the Dangers of Widely Undiagnosed Bleedin...( National Campaign Highlights Signs ...)

National Campaign Highlights Signs, Symptoms, Impact on Families of von

Willebrand Disease

NEW YORK, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- While an estimated 2.8 million Americans are affected by the most common hereditary bleeding disorder, von Willebrand disease (VWD), most don't even know they have it. VWD affects both men and women, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it takes a woman an average of 16 years to receive a diagnosis. Now a group of mothers with VWD have joined together to focus attention on the need for more communication between mothers and their children about signs, symptoms and potentially severe health consequences of this disease.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/vwdmoms/32367/

"Growing up I never knew that what I was experiencing -- the bruising and the heavy periods that would last for days -- had a name," said Jeanette Cesta, 45, who wasn't diagnosed until she was in her 20s. "Because of my diagnosis I was able to ensure that my three children were tested early and received the proper treatment for their VWD."

The National Hemophilia Foundation's Project Red Flag campaign, Real Talk About Women's Bleeding Disorders, educates women about VWD by shining light on the signs and symptoms of the disease which can often present in childhood and puberty. Mothers with VWD are sharing their own stories of diagnosis and treatment to encourage more open communication and family awareness that easy bruising, frequent nosebleeds, and prolonged and heavy menstruation can be symptoms of the disease. Earlier diagnosis is crucial for women with VWD as they are at greater risk for such serious complications as miscarriage, life-threatening bleeding following surgery or childbirth, and undergoing unnecessary hysterectomies, even though their condition can
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