Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


2

Millions of Americans May Have 'Rare' Artery Disease

Vascular experts believe disease is being massively underdiagnosed

Share

(Newser) – A disease so obscure many doctors don't know about it may actually affect up to one in twenty people, experts tell the Wall Street Journal. Fibromuscular dysplasia—FMD—affects the walls of arteries and can cause blockages. It is rarely diagnosed, or looked for, but vascular experts believe it could be responsible for many heart-related deaths among young people.

Relatively little research has been done on FMD, but several studies have suggested it may afflict around 10 million people in the US alone. Most sufferers may never show any symptoms, experts say, but screening for FMD could save thousands of people from strokes and heart attacks. Vascular specialists are working to compile more information on the disease and alert doctors to the danger signs, which include high blood pressure in people under 35.

High blood pressure in people under 35 is often a red flag warning of the existence of FMD, according to vascular specialists.
High blood pressure in people under 35 is often a red flag warning of the existence of FMD, according to vascular specialists.   (©Andreas D.)
Experts believe many doctors, unaware of the existence of FMD, dismiss sufferers' symptoms as psychosomatic.
Experts believe many doctors, unaware of the existence of FMD, dismiss sufferers' symptoms as psychosomatic.   (Shutter Stock)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

It's reasonable to say that many thousands could be saved from complications like heart attack, stroke, ruptured aneurysm and even death, by screening patients.
- Jeffrey W. Olin, director of vascular medicine at New York's Mt. Sinai School of Medicine

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
2 comments
VIEWING:
 
riffran
Jun 27, 09 5:40 AM CDT
??? That's a new one. Have to ask about that one. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Netstorm2k9
Jun 27, 09 1:20 PM CDT
Wow. Yet another thing to be afraid of. Thanks, mass media! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

14 Stories

 Heart Attack Deaths 
 Plummet 30% 

Drop hailed as modern medical miracle, but disease still daunting

Dec 16, 08 2:10 AM CST
(Newser) - In what is being hailed as a medical miracle, deaths from heart attack and stroke have dropped nearly a third between 1999 and 2006, according to the latest statistics from the American Heart Association. Yet despite gains from better preventive medicine and more effective hospital treatment, one person still dies... More »

MORE ABOUT:
obesity • cardiovascular disease • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • heart attack • stroke • American Heart Association • death rates • National Institutes of Health • cholesterol-lowering statins • National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

 That Stink May Help 
 Your Blood Pressure 

Hydrogen sulfide
could be key to hypertension treatment

Oct 24, 08 1:31 PM CDT
(Newser) - The gas we pass is unpleasant when it escapes, but it may also be key to lowering blood pressure, the BBC reports. It seems that hydrogen sulfide is produced by an enzyme in blood vessels, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found. Mice who lacked the enzyme experienced what would be... More »

MORE ABOUT:
cardiovascular disease • hypertension • blood pressure

 Combo Heart Pills 
 Enter Trials in London 

The cheap drugs could halve deaths from
heart attack, stroke

Sep 29, 08 8:16 AM CDT
(Newser) - Trials begin this week in London on a cheap "polypill" that could cut heart attack and stroke deaths in half worldwide, the Guardian reports. The pill combines four drugs—aspirin, a cholesterol-lowering statin, an ACE inhibitor, and thiazine to battle high blood pressure. The aim is to sell it—... More »

MORE ABOUT:
medicine • drug companies • blood pressure • heart attack • statins • stroke • drug trials • aspirin

14 Stories


The Mayo Clinic's FMD resources
Mayo Clinic


Science & Health  •  US 
TwitterFollow @NewserScience on Twitter

 
cardiovascular disease • disease • blood pressure • stroke • arteries • fibromuscular dysplasia

from our news partners