The vascular system—the arteries and veins that carry oxygen-rich blood throughout the body—doesn’t get the kind of attention extended to the heart. But when blood flow is restricted, the outcome can be as serious as a heart attack.

According to the American Vascular Association, vascular disease causes almost as much death and disability as heart disease—and more than any cancer. An estimated 20 to 30 million Americans are at risk for various vascular diseases, including stroke, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), carotid artery disease and aortic aneurysms.

Stroke—one of the most dangerous health issues related to vascular disease—is the No. 4 cause of death in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. Then a part of the brain cannot get oxygen, causing brain cells to die.

In The Nick of Time

Mathews had no idea he was dangerously close to having a stroke until a doctor treating him for an unrelated medical condition at the Medical University of South Carolina detected a possible restriction in his carotid artery and suggested he have it checked.

His internist sent him to Beaufort Memorial Hospital for a vascular screening, a series of three simple tests that check for blocked or narrowed arteries.

Mathews’ screening showed a restriction in his left carotid artery. More extensive testing revealed the artery was 80 percent blocked. Chad Tober, MD, vascular surgeon at Beaufort Memorial, recommended immediate surgery to remove the plaque and restore blood flow.

Mathews had the surgery and a few hours after the procedure, he was sitting up in his hospital bed having dinner and talking with his wife. He went home the following day.

“The surgery went really well,” Mathews says. “It wasn’t debilitating. I rested at home for a week and then went back to my normal routine. But if I had caught it earlier, I might have been able to avoid surgery or at least get it before it was so serious it was about to kill me.

Easy, Painless, Lifesaving

Like Mathews, many people who have potentially threatening vascular disease are unaware of it. For this reason, the Society for Vascular Surgery recommends a series of three painless, noninvasive vascular screening tests for adults age 55 and older with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a family history of circulatory problems.

Beaufort Memorial offers a $60 screening package that includes all three of the recommended tests. They are:

• Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) Test: This test is used to assess your risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a circulatory problem that occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to your limbs. The ABI test compares the blood pressure at your ankle with the blood pressure in your arm. A low number can indicate narrowing or blockage of the arteries in your legs, leading to circulatory problems, heart disease or stroke.
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Ultrasound: An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlarged area in the lower part of the aorta, the major blood vessel that supplies blood to the body. If the aneurysm or “bulging” reaches 5 centimeters, it can rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding. Typically, patients have no symptoms. If the aneurysm grows to the point where it is dangerously close to rupturing or causing pain in the abdomen and back or legs, surgery may be recommended.
• Carotid Ultrasound: When plaque builds up in your carotid arteries, it can harden and reduce the flow of blood to your brain. If the plaque ruptures, it can form a blood clot that completely blocks the blood flow, causing a stroke. An ultrasound of the body’s two carotid arteries provides detailed pictures of these blood vessels and information about the blood flowing through them.

“Vascular disease, diagnosed early, can often be treated effectively,” Tober says. “But you have to be aware you have a problem. The screening is simple and inexpensive. And it could save your life.”