For Immediate Release — May 10, 2010

The Vascular Disease Foundation Encourages Women to Get a Leg up on Better Vascular Health

Know the Common Signs of Common Vascular Disease

It is a well known fact that heart disease is the number one killer of and the leading cause of disability of women each year in the United States, but there are other related conditions of the vascular system that can affect a woman’s quality of life or increase their risk of heart attack and stroke. The Vascular Disease Foundation (VDF) would like to encourage women to learn about the common signs of vascular disease to promote better health during “Women’s Health Week” May 9-15.

Blood Clots or Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Up to one million Americans suffer from DVT, a deadly but often preventable disorder that refers to the formation of a blood clot in the deep veins, usually the leg. DVT can be dangerous if a blood clot breaks free and travels through the heart and into the lungs. This complication, called pulmonary embolism (PE), causes between 100,000 and 300,000 deaths per year in the United States alone -- that’s one death every six minutes. Also, because blood clots can permanently damage the veins, as many as half of DVT survivors can experience long-term leg pain, heaviness and swelling that can progress to difficulty walking, changes in skin color and open leg sores (known as ulcers). This condition, called post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), can significantly impair a patient’s quality of life.

DVT and PE should be considered emergencies that require immediate care if any of the following symptoms are present:

Symptoms of Possible DVT:

Recent swelling of one leg
Unexplained pain or tenderness of one leg
Skin color changes or is hot to the touch

Symptoms of Possible PE:

Recent or sudden shortness of breath
Sharp chest pain, especially when breathing in
Coughing up blood or sudden collapse

Peripheral Arterial Disease or PAD

Few American women are aware of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a common and dangerous vascular disease that affects more than four million women in the United States. PAD occurs when arteries in the legs become narrowed or clogged with fatty deposits, reducing blood flow to the legs. This can result in leg muscle pain when walking, disability, amputation and a poor quality of life. Blocked arteries found in people with PAD can be a red flag that other arteries, including those in the heart and brain, may also be blocked – increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

PAD affects both women and men and can strike adults of any age. The risk of PAD is increased in people over age 50, particularly in smokers and former smokers, and in people with diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, a personal history of heart disease or stroke, and in African Americans.

Symptoms of PAD include:

Leg muscle pain that occurs with walking and goes away with rest
Foot or toe pain at rest that often disturbs sleep
Skin wounds or ulcers on the feet or toes that are slow to heal

Varicose Veins

Vein problems are probably among the most common chronic conditions in North America and affect one in every three women. Varicose veins are enlarged, bulging superficial veins that can be felt beneath the skin. They are usually located on the inside of the calf or thigh and develop due to weakness of the vein wall and loss of valve function. Under the pressure of gravity, they continue to enlarge, and in the course of time, they may become elongated, twisted, pouched, and thickened.

The most important factors leading to the development of varicose veins include:

Heredity
Prolonged standing
Increasing age
Heavy lifting
Prior superficial or deep vein clots
Female gender
Multiple pregnancies.

Less physical activity, a higher blood pressure and obesity have also been linked with the presence of varicose veins in women.

To learn more about vascular disease and for non-biased, educational information about these and other vascular conditions including risk factors, symptoms, treatment visit www.vdf.org

For a free educational kit on women and vascular disease, please contact VDF at 888.883.4463 or info@vdf.org

About the Vascular Disease Foundation
The Vascular Disease Foundation is a national, nonprofit, public education organization dedicated to fighting vascular disease and improving the vascular health of Americans by increasing awareness of the prevention, diagnosis, and management of vascular disease. It has been a leader in disease awareness and advocacy through its Peripheral Arterial Disease Coalition and Venous Disease Coalition. For more information, visit www.vdf.org or call 888.VDF.4INFO (888.833.4463).

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