Know Your Risks

Vascular disease causes one million deaths a year in the United States. Every person has a chance of developing some type of vascular disease. It is important to know your risk factors. There are many life choices and changes we can make everyday to keep our bodies healthy and decrease our chances of developing vascular disease. Maryland’s Center for Vascular Medicine advocates for education, early diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease.

In Your Control : Risk Factors

Weight: Obesity is a leading risk factor for developing vascular diseases. Fat builds up on the interior walls of your arteries, blocking healthy blood flow. What Can You Do? A healthy diet and regular exercise can help keep your weight down and your arteries clear. Smoking: Smoking cigarettes constricts your arteries making blood flow more difficult. Smokers have a drastically increased chance of developing vascular diseases. What Can You Do? Studies show that some adverse effects of smoking can be reversed within two years of quitting. High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is a major contributor to vascular disease. What Can You Do? Eating a nutritious diet, exercise, stress management and keeping a healthy body weight can all help lower blood pressure.

Out of Your Control : Risk Factors

Family History: Knowing your family's history of heart attack, diabetes, stroke or cardiovascular disease is essential in determining your chances of developing cardiovascular disease. What Can You Do? You can not control your family history, but knowing your hereditary disposition can help you focus on areas to improve your own health. Age: Whether we like it or not, we all age. As you age your chances of developing vascular disease increase. What Can You Do?Though we can not reverse the effects of aging, you can start to get screened for vascular diseases more frequently as you get older. Regular screenings can lead to early diagnosis of vascular disease and could possibly save your life. Gender: Men are at a greater risk for developing vascular disease overall. Postmenopausal women and men’s chances of developing vascular disease are about the same. What Can You Do? Keep a healthy diet and exercise throughout your life. Make sure you make regular visits to your doctor even if you feel healthy. Early diagnosis screening saves lives. Center for Vascular Medicine is a leader in the field of vascular disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment in the greater Maryland region. Our team of highly skilled and trained physicians offer years of experience and knowledge on vascular health. Many of our life saving procedures are performed in one of our conveniently located outpatient settings. Comprehensive and personalized treatment options can be discussed during a one-on-one consultation with one our compassionate doctors.