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HEALTH NEWS AND INFORMATION
October 2012
A service of Kadlec Regional Medical Center–Tri-Cities
www.kadlec.org
A
fter finishing his
fellowship at Oregon
Health & Science
University, vascular
surgeon Dae Lee, MD, began
looking at places for his practice.
And, one thing was key — family.
“We wanted to settle down in a
place that was good to raise our
two boys,” he said. “That was very
important to us. My wife is from the
Tri-Cities. We liked its size and it has
good schools. Her family is here,
too, so we have good support.”
In August, Dr. Lee joined the
team of highly trained specialists
at Kadlec Clinic Cardiothoracic and
Vascular Surgery.
Dr. Lee’s journey to vascular
surgery took a circuitous route.
While at Cornell University, he
studied chemical engineering. During
classes in fluid dynamics, he learned
principles of blood flow through
normal and diseased vessels. This
inspired him to learn more about
vascular physiology. His fascination
with the sciences and desire to help
people led him to medicine and
ultimately vascular surgery.
He attended Georgia Health
Sciences University Medical College
of Georgia in Augusta, Ga., and
did both his residency and vascular
surgery fellowship at Oregon
Health & Science University.
Vascular surgery
Vascular surgery focuses on
treating the blood vessels of the
body. Vascular surgeons may work
to restore blood flow to an area of
the body, except those of the heart
and brain, after trauma, disease or
other issues which may damage
blood vessels.
The vascular system consists of
vessels throughout the body through
which blood travels. Arteries carry
blood with fresh oxygen away from
the heart to nourish organs. Veins
return blood to the heart. Blood
flow can be impaired by congenital
malformation, structural defects such
as weakened or thickened arterial
walls, or by obstructions such as
blood clots or fatty deposits.
Dae Lee, MD
1.
Do you feel pain, tightness,
tiredness or weakness in your legs
when you walk?
2.
Do your legs feel better when
you stop walking?
3.
Has a physician ever told you
that you have poor circulation in
your legs?
4.
Have you ever been told that
you have blockage in your carotid
arteries?
5.
Have you recently experienced
TEMPORARY:
■■
Loss of vision in one eye?
■■
Slurred speech?
■■
Difficulty understanding what is
being said to you?
■■
Weakness or numbness of an arm
or leg on one side of your body?
6.
Do you have high blood pressure?
■■
If yes, for how long? ___ years
■■
Has it been difficult to get your
blood pressure under control?
■■
Are you taking more than two
blood pressure medications now?
7.
Do your legs swell?
8.
Have you had problems with
blood clotting or phlebitis?
9.
Have you had or do you have
an open sore on your legs, feet or
toes that doesn’t heal?
10.
Do you have a family history
for enlarged arteries or aneurysms?
If you answered
“Yes”
to any of
the questions above, you should
consider seeing your doctor or
a vascular specialist for further
evaluation. If you don't have a
provider, call
(509) 942-DOCS
(3627)
.
EXPANDING
Vascular health quiz
—continued on back page
VASCULAR
care