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Home > Patients and Families > PBS Programs - Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

PBS Programs - Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

Thoracic Disease

The weakening of the body's principle artery, the aorta, under high blood pressure can, over time, cause a ballooning effect that, if left untreated, could lead to a fatal rupture. In an effort to head off this problem, clinicians and researchers are promoting more preemptive screenings for people 50 years of age and older. They also continue to improve on new endoprosthesis to surgically treat aneurysms. This Healthy Body Healthy Mind program explores the relationship between thoracic aneurysms in the chest area, and aortic aneurysms near the abdomen.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Program

For more information on the PBS program: Check your local PBS television airing schedule View an on-demand version of the show Download informational program flyer  This program is sponsored by Medtronic Vascular

Nearly 200,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with AAA annually, and approximately 15,000 die each year from a ruptured AAA. The program focuses on the risks, prevention, and treatment of AAA.

AAA is a disease that primarily affects people in their late 50's and 60's. It is a very important topic right now because Medicare now offers a AAA Screening Medicare Benefit to qualified seniors as part of their Welcome to Medicare physical.

Society for Vascular Surgery Members Featured on the Program

Dr. Jeffrey Carpenter
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dr. Carlo Dall’Olmo
Michigan Vascular Center; Flint, Michigan

Dr. Mark Farber
University of North Carolina; Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Dr. Robert Zwolak
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center; Lebanon, New Hampshire