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Press Release

Risk of Developing Vascular Disease Increases in Older Women

Morristown—Atherosclerosis, a term used to describe diseases that involve the accumulation of plaque that leads to the gradual closure of arteries throughout the body, is widespread and often under-diagnosed among older American women, according to a report by a team of vascular surgeons from the Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical College campuses of New York Presbyterian Hospital.  The Vascular Specialists at the Vein Insititute of New Jersey wants older women in (your city/community) to know that they are at a higher risk for developing arterial disease.

“The risk of vascular problems in women increases greatly after menopause” said Dr. Harry Agis, one of the three Vascular Specialist at the Vein Institute of New Jersey.  Agis goes on to say, “so it is important for older women to seek advice from a vascular surgeon once they reach a certain age. Certain factors that set them apart from men increase their risk of developing conditions like carotid stenosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and lower extremity arterial occlusive disease.”

Older women may be more likely to develop arterial vascular disease due to some of the following risk factors:

• Smoking
• Advanced age
• Family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Family history of stroke
• Family history of leg amputation
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Post-menopause

In the Columbia and Weill report, researchers broke their findings about older women’s vascular health into three main disease categories and the risk factors for each condition:

• Carotid Stenosis: Women’s carotid and vertebral arteries are sometimes smaller than those of men, so it takes less plaque buildup to cause severe restrictions in blood flow which in turn causes carotid stenosis. Women are at higher risk of stroke.
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA): Because of unknown factors, AAA develops much later in life in women compared to men.
• Arterial Occlusive disease (poor blood flow to the legs): The risk of restricted blood flow in the legs rises quickly for women after menopause which increases the odds of older women acquiring arterial occlusive disease.

“Older women—many of whom have spent their lives caring for others—deserve to receive the best care from their physicians to help slow or prevent the development of arterial disease,” said Dr. Ombrellino, another one of the Vascular Specialists at the Institute.. “Older women need to talk with their primary care physician about being tested for carotid stenosis, abdominal aortic aneurism and arterial occlusive disease.”

Since 1986, the board certified Vascular Specialists of the Vein Institute of New Jersey, have provided exceptional patient care to our local communities.  With offices located in Morristown, Princeton and Sparta, they are able to conveniently help patients over a large geographical area.  Patients and doctors from all over the world come the Vein Institute for both treatment and training.  The Institute’s state of the art facilities and use of the very latest technologies make the Vein Institute of New Jersey one of the top treatment locations of its type in the world.  

To learn more about varicose veins and other vascular diseases, visit www.veininstitutenj.com or call 1-800-954-8346.