People frequently associate heart and vascular disease with being a risk to men’s health. However, a woman’s risk for these diseases is roughly the same as a man’s. Unfortunately, the early signs of vascular disease in women are often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed because they are often atypical, appearing similar to those of cardiac disease – if they are present at all.

Within vascular disease, there are three illnesses are particularly common and problematic for women specifically. These are peripheral vascular disease (PVD), aneurysmal disease, and cerebrovascular (carotid) disease. All three can pose serious health risks for women, yet all three can begin with no noticeable signs. PVD may present itself as atypical pain in the legs or cause difficulty walking, but carotid disease and aneurysmal disease often show no symptoms until they have progressed to their later stages.

The sad reality is that because of this, most women present to their vascular surgeon with more advanced stages of disease, often resulting in negative outcomes. Worse, women are also less likely than men to be offered surgical revascularization, limiting their options for effective treatment. More research is needed on the diagnosis, management, and follow-up care for women to better understand and change this.

Women experiencing the symptoms of vascular disease, as well as those who are over the age of 60, and who smoke, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a history of cardiac disease should make an appointment to see a vascular surgeon to learn more about their risks of developing more serious symptoms. Catching vascular disease in its early stages and beginning therapy is critical to successfully treating it.

Our vascular surgeons are dedicated to closing gaps in disease management and providing quality care to our female patients.