CHICAGO - Frank R. Arko, M.D., a vascular surgeon with both the Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute and the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, is featured in a new,
broadcast quality healthcare video produced by the Society for Vascular Surgery®.
The video explains the vascular condition, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). “The aorta is the body’s largest artery and carries blood from the heart,” said Dr. Arko. “Sometimes, the pressure of pumping blood causes a weak part of the aorta to stretch and bulge.”
The resultant internal bleeding from an aneurysm requires immediate medical attention. Many patients die from an AAA before they can reach a hospital.
According to the National Institutes of Health, 15,000 Americans die each year from ruptured AAAs. The limited warning signs of AAA include:
. pulsing sensation in the abdomen
. severe, unexplained pain in the lower back
. pain and discoloration in the feet known as blue toe syndrome.
Persons most at risk of developing an AAA are those who:
. are over age 60
. smoke
. have high blood pressure
. have high cholesterol
. are obese
. have atherosclerosis (clogged arteries)
. have a family history of AAA.
Non-invasive screening tests can detect AAAs. For more information on vascular health and AAA (link to: http://www.vascularweb.org/vascularhealth/Pages/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm.aspx), log onto www.VascularWeb.org®.
# # #
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.