Saturday, April 17, 2010

Severe Arterial Disease Found in Younger Adults

(HealthDay News) -- Severe peripheral vascular disease may be much more common in younger American adults and women than previously suspected, according to a new study.
The disease causes a narrowing in blood vessels that carry blood to the arms, legs, kidney and stomach and leads to symptoms that include pain and cramping in the legs during exercise.
Researchers analyzed data on 994 men and women, age 55 and younger, treated in the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Vascular Center between 1998 and 2009. They found that most of them had premature atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Severe premature arterial disease of the legs (64 percent) was the most common finding.
Among the other findings:
• 130 patients had had surgery to unblock the carotid artery and improve blood flow from the heart to the brain.
• 87 patients had mesenteric vascular disease -- a narrowing or blockage of one or more of the three major arteries that supply blood to the small and large intestines.
• 49 patients had repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms, which occur when a large blood vessel supplying blood to the abdomen, pelvis and legs swells and is in danger of bursting. Read more...

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