Three NBA stars recently received blood clot disorder diagnoses. In the last two months, Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks and the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama were diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, and Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons was diagnosed last year. Is this suggestive of a larger problem?

What's deep vein thrombosis?
DVT occurs when a "blood clot develops in a deep vein," most commonly in the lower leg, thigh or pelvis, though it can also occur in the arm, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When a part of the blood clot gets dislodged and travels to the lungs, the DVT can develop into a pulmonary embolism. Many people with DVT have no symptoms, but common signs to look for in the affected leg or arm include swelling, pain or tenderness, and redness or discoloration.

Blood clots can occur in people of any age but typically affect those over 60. Other risk factors include a family history of clots, recent childbirth, obesity and sitting in one position for too long, such as during plane and car travel, said Mount Sinai. Certain behaviors can also put you at increased risk, including smoking and taking birth control pills.

Some patients with DVT may need hospital treatment, and in rare cases, surgical intervention is required. However, for most people, anticoagulants (blood thinners), compression socks and elevating the affected area are sufficient enough treatment, said the Mayo Clinic.

Is it more prominent among basketball players?
Not necessarily. Professional athletes could be exposed to heightened risk factors, such as frequent plane travel, but players are "not flying drastically more of late than in the recent past," said The Athletic. Studies have suggested that taller people may be at greater risk, but player heights have not changed significantly either, said cardiologist Cheng-Han Chen to the outlet.

Developing DVT "just randomly happens in certain people" but may be more common in those with "repetitive arm movements," vascular surgeon Christopher Yi said to The Athletic. But there's a silver lining: The recently spotlighted cases will help more athletes catch blood clots before they become serious. 

As President Donald Trump continues to make large changes to the federal government, one state is reportedly already feeling a significant financial burden more than 4,700 miles away from the White House. Hawaii is reportedly dealing with problems in several of its economic sectors because of Trump's policies, which have left many in the Aloha State concerned for their future.

Farming funds
There are about 6,500 farmers in Hawaii, according to the USDA's 2022 Census of Agriculture. But since Trump paused or cut many federal programs, "nearly $90 million in funding for Hawaii and Pacific region farms and food system organizations has been frozen or cut," said NBC News. This has led to "great confusion among local farmers about what's frozen and what's not," said Hawaii Farm Bureau Executive Director Brian Miyamoto to NBC.

Hawaii's farming industry already suffers from many logistical issues due to its location, as about 90% of the island state's food is imported. But now there's "new anxiety about cuts to federal subsidies and USDA programs on top of ongoing challenges," said Hawaii News Now.

Tourism dollars
Tourism is one of Hawaii's biggest industries. But some of Trump's "policy reversals and delays have made it difficult for Hawaii's visitor industry to know where tourism will end up," said the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 

Trump's tariffs could "broadly dampen international arrivals to Hawaii, which in many markets are still struggling to recover to pre-pandemic levels," said the Star-Advertiser. But the tariffs will also affect the 75% of Hawaiian tourists who are American. The trade wars could "hurt Hawaii's bread-and-butter U.S. consumers," who will likely "pull back" on travel spending. 

Tariffs and overall costs
The tariffs, which Trump has implemented on all imports, could raise prices across the U.S. But the "cost of basic necessities is expected to rise even more here in the islands," with price spikes on everything from food to building materials, said KITV. This could exacerbate the state's already dire housing crisis and "lead to higher prices of most all other goods." 

Trump's actions could "result in the loss of more than 2,000 local jobs, placing Hawaii's economy at risk of recession," said KHON-TV Honolulu, citing the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Hawaii will "feel the adverse effects of federal policies over the next several years."