Awareness programme on Vascular Diseases begins today

Bangalore, Aug 4 (UNI) A five-day National Campaign and free Vascular Camps to create awareness on Vascular Disease began here today.

Briefing newsmen here Vascular Society of India President K R Suresh said the awareness was mainly in the interest of smokers, diabetics, aged and those under stress who were particularly vulnerable to this disease. About 12 hospitals in the city offer free clinic camp to the vascular patients as part of the campaign, he added.

He regretted that though there was a veriety of treatment available for many forms of the disease but there was an appalling ignorance about it. In fact majority of the vascular patients were not seen by vascular surgeon at all resulting in unnecessary limb and life loss.

There were only 50 vascular surgeons in India which resulted in these patients seen by other specialists resulting in delayed referral to a vascular surgeon.

Replying to queries he said due to lack of awareness about the disease in India both among the public and the medical profession there was a low number of cases. Hardly, 10 per cent of the total number of vascular patients reached surgeons for treatment. If the disease was attended in the primary stage itself, it would yield excellent results and save limbs, he added.

Answering a question he said men were more prone to the vascular disease compared to women and all patients were also vulnerable.

Amputees had high risks of future heart attacks, he added saying smoking, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure were main factors responsible for the vascular disease.

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