March 2, 2012 Contact: Sue Crosson-Knutson 312-334-2311
scknutson@vascularsociety.orgCHICAGO - On March 9, Barbie
® will celebrate her 53
rd birthday. The 11.5” cultural icon has always maintained an active lifestyle.
“Women in their 50s should remain active,” said Kellie Brown, M.D., a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery®. “Thirty minutes of exercise daily, eating healthy, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy body weight are key to good health.”
Since Barbie’s debut in 1959, great strides have been made in women’s health care. Well known medical advances include the following:
- women’s smaller neck arteries (carotid and vertebral) result in quicker buildup of plaque which restricts blood flow leading to strokes and heart attacks.
- women over age 65 are more likely to develop clogged or narrowed arteries in the legs without displaying Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) symptoms. Women with PAD have four times the risk of stroke and heart attack.
- women’s smaller arteries result in more fatalities from abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) which are under-diagnosed in women. Therefore, non-invasive vascular screenings are even more important for women.
“In many instances, an active lifestyle may prevent life-threatening vascular conditions,” said Dr. Brown. “Physical activity such as walking, swimming, aerobics, and dancing can help reduce blood pressure and keep the body healthy. Better still, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a great example to set for our daughters.”
Non-invasive tests often detect vascular disease in its early stages. In addition, medications can help lower plaque buildup. For vascular health information, log onto:
www.VascularWeb.org.
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About the Society for Vascular Surgery®
The Society for Vascular Surgery® (SVS) is a not-for-profit professional medical society, composed primarily of vascular surgeons, that seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research, and public awareness. SVS is the national advocate for 3,750 specialty-trained vascular surgeons and other medical professionals who are dedicated to the prevention and cure of vascular disease. Visit its Web site at VascularWeb.org®. Follow SVS on Twitter and Facebook.