Spring 2010 • Vol. 10 No 2 In This Issue: Pilot Study Shows Promise for New Exercise Treatment for PAD and Offers Hope for Patients Walking has been a proven treatment for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and can make a difference in the lives of many. Recent studies have shown that for some individuals, a structured walking program is excellent for reducing leg pain or cramps, but as the disease worsens, walking can become more and more difficult. In some cases, the leg pain, or claudication, may be so severe that performing everyday tasks such as climbing a flight of stairs or going to the store becomes challenging…read more What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency? Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) or Venous Reflux Disease) is very common, affecting about 20 percent of the population &mdash nearly 24 million Americans. When the leg veins cannot pump enough blood back to the heart, that condition is called chronic venous insufficiency, which is sometimes called chronic venous disease. There are three kinds of veins: superficial veins, deep veins and perforating veins, which connect the superficial to the deep veins …read more Other featured articles: • EXERT Study • How to Start an Arm-Cycling Exercise Program • Compression: When and Why It May Be Necessary • Leg Swelling • If You Have DVT Your Help Is Needed! A Brief History The Vascular Disease Foundation (VDF) was founded in 1998 by Dennis Newman, a pioneer in ultrasound technology. Dennis built a successful company producing Doppler devices for detecting, among other medical issues, vascular disease. Dennis knew that the public and most medical professionals were unaware of many diagnostic and treatment options for vascular disease. This lack of knowledge really hit home when his cousin lost a leg to vascular disease. Dennis did what anyone would do to help a family member; he began to contact his network of medical professionals in search of information about vascular disease. It didn't take long for him realize that few resources were available for people suffering from this often silent and most certainly debilitating disease. So, Dennis did what few are able to do, he formed the Vascular Disease Foundation. Today, Dennis serves VDF as Chairman of the Board of Directors. In our short history, we have connected with many prominent vascular medicine societies and we regularly attend their annual meetings as well as include their representatives on our Board of Directors (since 2000). Since its inception in 1998, the Vascular Disease Foundation has shown steady growth in its ability to reach out to the general public and medical professionals alike and continues to provide timely and accurate information about vascular disease. We remain your most trusted source for information on vascular disease.