An estimated 20-30 million Americans are at risk for developing vascular disease outside of the heart. The vascular system is comprised of arteries, veins, lymphatic channels and capillaries. Common conditions caused by vascular disease include: stroke (the third leading cause of death in the United States), peripheral arterial disease ranging from difficulty walking to gangrene, aortic aneurysms and venous problems, including  blood clots, varicose veins, swollen legs and leg ulcers. Vascular disease may affect one or all portions of the circulatory system.

Vascular disease is common among women in the United States. In fact, vascular disease increases as women progress through menopause and reaches an incidence similar to men in the sixth and seventh decades of life. Furthermore, with the increase in the aging population in the United States, its prevalence is likely to increase significantly over the next few decades.

Because peripheral arterial disease is a marker for arterial disease elsewhere in the body, specifically the coronary and the carotid arteries, peripheral arterial disease is a significant predictor of heart attack and stroke. Women with peripheral arterial disease have a 2-4 fold increase in cardiovascular death and disability.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States. Approximately 100,000 American women die each year as a result of a stroke. Women are more likely to have a stroke when they are older and they account for greater than 60 percent of all stroke deaths. Carotid artery disease is the single most important risk factor in the development of stroke.

Because vascular disease is so variable and complex, the Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Center for Vascular Disease at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute provides a unique multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis, treatment, and screening of patients with vascular disease. William H. Pearce, MD and Neil J. Stone, MD, internationally recognized experts in their fields, are leading an outstanding multidisciplinary team of specialists who will participate in the care of these patients. In addition, the team includes skillful nurses and nurse practitioners who play an active role in providing optimal patient care that is comprehensive, efficient and accessible to patients.

In general, vascular disease in women may be undiagnosed and untreated because women may have no symptoms until it is too late. Early detection treatment is important to reduce the death and disability associated with vascular disease as well as improve outcomes. Vascular disease can be easily diagnosed through non-invasive testing. The Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Vascular Laboratory provides state of the art, non-invasive diagnostic services. Over 15,000 tests per year are performed in the Vascular Laboratory; the staff includes board-certified vascular surgeons and highly trained registered vascular technologists.

Risk factor reduction for the prevention of vascular disease is critical to reduce death and disability from vascular disease. Risk factors, including hypertension, smoking, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol play a significant role in the development of vascular disease and modification of these risk factors has a significant impact on the disease.

Several new areas of research are being investigated to improve patient care. They include: minimally invasive endovascular treatmentsfor vascular disease; genetic basis of atherosclerosis, aorticaneurysms and aortic dissection; neurocerebral monitoring andprotection during aortic surgery; methods to improve walking distanceand other disabilities associated with circulation problems; use ofstem cells to replace damaged arteries; minimally invasive treatments of varicose veins; new methods to treat and prevent stroke; and new and innovative treatments of blood clots.

The Center for Vascular Disease strives to provide quality patient care, improve clinical outcomes, decrease complications and re-admission rates, and enhance community-based care through communication with primary care physicians and visiting nurses.

Contact

Center for Vascular Disease
1-866-662-8467 (toll free)