Highway to Health Campaign Encourages Americans to Fast Track Their Vascular Health
A Vascular Surgeon does far more than surgery, and there are 100 million people reaching vascular disease age.
A new national survey from the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) found that nearly one in three Americans at the highest risk for developing blood vessel (vascular) diseases have not heard of any of the common conditions, like peripheral artery disease and carotid artery disease. If left untreated, these diseases place people at high risk for life-threatening complications. SVS is encouraging physicians across specialties to join together to educate and raise awareness about the symptoms and risk factors associated with vascular disease through the Highway to Health campaign.
Know your Strong Vessel Score
- Diabetes
- High Cholesterol
- High Blood Pressure
- History of Smoking
Understanding Blood Vessel (Vascular) Diseases
As one of the largest organ systems, the vascular system is like a network of highways, with blood vessels (veins, arteries, and capillaries) delivering oxygen and moving blood to every part of the body. Vascular conditions can slow circulation and impact the way the body functions. Signs and symptoms of vascular disease (such as pain or swelling in the legs, arms, and feet) can go unnoticed or unrecognized and cause serious or life-threatening complications if left untreated. These conditions include heart attack, stroke, amputation, and even death.
A Gap in Awareness
Many people are familiar with heart doctors or brain surgeons, but more than 80% are not familiar with the specialty with the most comprehensive training for the treatment of vascular diseases – vascular surgeons. Vascular surgeons do more than just surgery. Vascular surgeons address the full spectrum of vascular disease, from prevention and screening to both minimally invasive and surgical treatments. To help address this gap in awareness, SVS is launching a three-year patient education campaign, the Highway to Health campaign, to empower Americans to learn their SVS Strong Vessel Score and start a conversation with their doctor to see if a vascular surgeon could be a good addition to their overall care team. SVS also released the Highway to Health patient education toolkit, which includes videos, checklists, and interactive elements, and can be found at: YourVascularHealth.org.
Talking to Your Doctor
Maintaining vascular health at every age supports overall health, quality of life, and longevity, yet more than 70% of doctors haven’t talked to their patients over the age of 50 about their risk for vascular disease, or their Strong Vessel Score. Risk factors for vascular disease include having diabetes, using or a history of tobacco products, high cholesterol, and/or high blood pressure. The SVS Strong Vessel Score offers patients a way to share information with their doctor about risk factors and family history to help benchmark and start a conversation about their vascular health.
Problems with blood circulation are not rare, but they are not always obvious. We urge people to get checked out when in doubt and ask their doctor if seeing a vascular surgeon is right for them.
For more information, visit yourvascularhealth.org
