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What do we want to do?
What do we want to do?
Health professionals are often taught how to spot and treat illness based on research in adults. But young people don't always have the same symptoms or respond to the same treatment. This means that they often get misdiagnosed or ignored, suffering a reduced quality of life unnecessarily.
We want to raise awareness of what to look for in young people, educate healthcare professionals, and fund research into health conditions in young people that don't get the attention they deserve!
The Importance of Pregnancy Testing in Healthcare
The Importance of Pregnancy Testing in Healthcare
Yasmine tragically lost her life due to complications from an undiagnosed pregnancy. Our campaign aims to prevent such tragedies by ensuring that both patients and General Practitioners (GPs) are aware of pregnancy as a possible underlying cause of illness and take prompt action when symptoms arise.
Pulmonary Embolisms in Young People
Pulmonary Embolisms in Young People
This foundation was created because of an undetected pulmonary embolism in 20yr old Yasmine.
It wasn't considered as a risk until several hours into resuscitation by which point it was too late. If one of the professionals had thought of this earlier, Yasmine may have been saved. Unfortunately, we've encountered many professionals who believe that 'young people don't get blood clots' despite the evidence to the contrary.
More research desperately needs to be done on pulmonary embolisms because young people's bodies are fantastic at covering up their illnesses until the last moment, meaning that they often present with other symptoms than those medical professionals are taught.
Most guidelines for spotting blood clots are written based on older patients so running tests early is generally down to a professional's high level clinical suspicion.
A 2025 Systematic Review was conducted by an international team highlighting the common clinical characteristics, diagnostic approaches, treatment strategies for pulmonary embolisms in young people.
What are the signs of blood clots in young people (including Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism)
What are the signs of blood clots in young people (including Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism)
Painful and/or swelling body part
Red or discoloured skin
Warm and tender skin
Leg/limb pain
PAY ATTENTION IF YOU ALSO HAVE
Abdominal pain
Nausea
Vomiting
What raises a young person's risk of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism?
What raises a young person's risk of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism?
Thrombophilia (genetic clotting disorder)
Recent surgery or immobility (such as long-haul flights or bed-rest)
Infections
Obesity
Oral contraceptives
Central venous catheters
One of our goals is to one day develop a simple reference tool that can be used for younger populations to identify the risk of blood clots prior to a medical emergency occurring. The first steps involve further research into cases of pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis that have occurred out of hospital as well as input from medical professionals about the barriers to early identification.
Useful Links & Information
Useful Links & Information
Follow us on social media
Follow us on social media
We post regular videos on social media outlining key signs and symptoms of illnesses in young people and share advice on how to approach healthcare professionals.
Use The Right Service
Use The Right Service
Usetherightservice.com is an NHS tool that can help you identify which NHS service will suit you best for your health needs and save you from wasting time being passed along different services.
You can also call 111 for advice on where to go.
Voiceability
Voiceability
We don't provide direct advocacy services for young people accessing healthcare - but we recognise how important it is to be taken seriously!
If you feel you need support when talking about your health or accessing healthcare services, we recommend using a service like Voiceability who can help make sure you are listened to.
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