Dr. Chelsea Dorsey, MD, FACS, DFSVS, RPVI, Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Chicago, shared some eye-opening findings from a national survey by the Society for Vascular Surgery. Nearly one in three Americans, especially within the Black community, aren’t aware of serious vascular diseases that can cause heart attacks, strokes, and amputations. Smoking is a leading risk factor, making these conditions even more dangerous. Dr. Dorsey highlights the importance of spreading awareness and taking proactive steps because these diseases are often caught too late in our community. Join us as we explore the importance of awareness and the prevention of vascular diseases.
BHM: What are the key findings from the recent survey about the awareness of vascular diseases among Americans, and how do these findings specifically impact the Black community?
Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: The Society for Vascular Surgery Survey (SVS) conducted a national survey to gain insights and awareness of patients’ perceptions of vascular disease and vascular surgery as a specialty. Unfortunately, what we found from the survey was not surprising – many Americans don’t know about vascular diseases or surgeons. This was especially true in the Black community.
For example, 84% of Black Americans do not have a firm understanding of what vascular surgeons do, and only 23% said they would see a vascular surgeon for symptoms related to their blood vessels despite vascular surgeons being the experts in this area.
Vascular conditions affect more than 40 million Americans (nearly 70% of all adults over the age of 65) but most underestimate their risk, leaving them vulnerable to serious health consequences including heart attack, stroke, amputation, and even death.
BHM: Can you explain the importance of early detection of vascular diseases, particularly for Black Americans who face higher risks of conditions like peripheral artery disease and amputation?
Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: The vascular system is a network of vessels (veins, arteries, and capillaries) that deliver oxygen and keep blood moving rapidly to every body part. Vascular conditions can slow the circulation of blood throughout the body.
Some common vascular health conditions include peripheral artery disease (PAD), carotid artery disease (CAD), venous diseases (such as varicose veins or spider veins), blood clots, and aortic aneurysms.
Vascular disease is silent and deadly; signs and symptoms of vascular disease can go unnoticed or unrecognized and cause serious or life-threatening complications if left untreated.
The top risk factors for vascular disease are smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, conditions which are highly prevalent in the Black community. This makes it extremely important to get screened to catch vascular disease early. Notably, as the Amputee Coalition reports, prevention and management of vascular diseases can prevent 60% of amputations.
BHM: What are the early warning signs of vascular diseases should Black Americans be aware of, and how can they proactively monitor their vascular health?
Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: Vascular conditions can have warning signs, such as cold or numb toes and leg cramps, that are easy to ignore or minimize as “just a part of getting older.”
Other symptoms to be aware of are pain, swelling, or discoloration in the legs, arms, and feet, difficulty walking, and sudden, severe pain in the stomach or lower back.
Problems with blood circulation are not rare, but they are not always obvious. If in doubt, get checked out and ask your doctor if seeing a vascular surgeon is right for you.
Vascular surgeons are the long-term primary care providers for vascular health and patients with vascular conditions. They manage veins and arteries in every body part except the brain and the heart. A vascular team can help ensure better vascular health and help manage chronic conditions that can impact blood flow, from diabetes to high blood pressure. Including a vascular specialist as part of your healthcare team can help ensure longevity, mobility, and an overall better quality of life.
BHM: Why is there a higher incidence of peripheral artery disease and amputations among Black Americans, and what steps can be taken to address these disparities?
Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: As stated by the National Library of Medicine, Black people are two times more likely to suffer from PAD and up to four times more likely to undergo an amputation compared to white people. The causes of these disparities are quite complex and include (but are not limited to) social and economic inequities, poor access to healthcare, physician bias, and systematic discrimination.
It is also worth noting that there continues to be a pervasive and warranted mistrust in the medical community based on very clear historical examples of mistreatment of the Black community.
Given the complex nature of the problem, the solution must be approached from several angles, ranging from initiatives like the Highway to Health campaign to policy change at the local, state, and federal levels. I am particularly interested in providing more opportunities for vascular surgeons to learn better ways to deliver equitable, culturally responsive care and increase workforce diversity in our field. A growing body of literature demonstrates that racial concordance between a patient and their physician can lead to better adherence to recommendations made by the doctor, better compliance with medications, and ultimately improved health outcomes.
BHM: At what age do individuals generally become at higher risk for vascular diseases, and how does this impact the Black community specifically?
Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: Individuals generally become at higher risk for vascular diseases starting at age 65. This impacts the Black community specifically because, according to an Administration for Community Living report, the Black population aged 65 and older is expected to increase to 94.7 million by 2060, and the population aged 85 and older is expected to nearly triple to 19 million during the same period.This means we will face an unprecedented need for more specialized medical care, creating a complex demand for our healthcare system.
BHM: Can you elaborate on the Society for Vascular Surgery’s new digital toolkit and how it can help our community understand and manage vascular health?
Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: To increase awareness of vascular health and disease prevention, SVS launched the Highway to Health campaign, including a patient education toolkit. “>The videos, checklists, and interactive elements can be found at YourVascularHealth.org.
My favorite part of the toolkit is the explainer videos, which explain the vascular system and its importance to our health.
The videos also specifically address the role of vascular surgeons and why they are essential in preventing and managing vascular disease.
BHM: How can family members and caregivers support their loved ones in managing vascular health?
Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: Family members and caregivers are the main sources of support within the Black community for managing our health. Word-of-mouth has a lot of power, especially from the ones closest to us.
I would encourage everyone to support their loved ones in managing their vascular health by ensuring they know the vascular disease risk factors and have a copy of the Strong Vessel Score checklist, which can be found on YourVascularHealth.org.
Make sure that they know not all symptoms are “just a part of getting older.” Tell them not to ignore symptoms or pain; when in doubt, get checked out!Offer to call their healthcare professional and to sit in on their appointment.
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