Bernstein beginsnew quest

The University of Maryland grad and former college gymnast has a regular workout regimen and goes out of her way to have a healthy life style.

So Bernstein was as surprised as anyone to find out that she had a life-threatening medical condition.

» Bernstein on how she found out: “I was working the Texas-Oklahoma football game and the broadcast crew had planned our exit from the Cotton Bowl to catch our flight at the airport in Dallas. I was running across the Texas State Fair midway and my legs hurt and I was short of breath. Once we made it to the plane the entire flight back to New York my legs hurt and the next day I saw my doctor. After having an MRI done I found out that I had blood clots in my leg and my lungs and I was checked into the hospital. I was lucky — I could have died. But fortunately the doctors caught my Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT).”

Many people know DVT as the condition that caused the death of NBC correspondent David Bloom.

Now Bernstein and Melanie Bloom have joined forces to educate people of this condition that claims the lives of more people each year in the U.S. than either AIDS or Breast Cancer.

» Bernstein on what she has learned: “I know that you can help yourself by exercising, walking, climbing stairs, simple things like stretching if set in your office chair all day. People need to talk to their doctors about this condition and to take the time to learn if you are a candidate. Finding out ahead of time could, as it did in my case, save your life.”

Meanwhile, we look forward to seeing Bernstein on ESPN both on the set and on sidelines for years to come.

DVT risk factors

Some risk factors or triggering events to discusswith your doctor include:

» cancer

» certain heart or respiratory diseases

» prior DVT

» advanced age

» use of birth control pills

» obesity

For more information on DVT visit www.preventdvt.org

Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.