VASCULAR DISORDERS

Approximately 15 million Americans have vascular disease, and at least half of them have no symptoms. It is important to diagnose these conditions accurately and early in the course of the disease because they can cause progressive discomfort, long-term disability, amputation and death. Vascular Medicine is an important and under-represented specialty in medicine. Vascular Medicine specialists are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease, a broad range of conditions affecting the blood vessels or circulatory system.

Often thought of as "hardening of the arteries", "poor circulation" or even as varicose veins, vascular disease can be present in any part of the body where there are arteries and veins that transport blood. Vascular disorders occur when blood flow becomes impaired by structural defects, such as weakened or thickened arterial walls (i.e. aneurysms or inflammation), or by obstructions such as blood clots, fatty deposits and atherosclerosis.

Vascular disease can lead to heart attack, stroke, ruptured blood vessels, blood clots, kidney failure and results in approximately 100,000 amputations each year. The cost to society of heart disease and stroke amounts to more than 150 billion dollars per year!