About Dare to C.A.R.E.

Dare to C.A.R.E. is a cardiovascular disease early detection program that provides free vascular ultrasound examinations and education about cardiovascular disease. DTC is a nonprofit organization located in Heineman Vascular Center and is directed by Jeremiah Holleman, MD of Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute. It began in Charlotte in 2007, but has been running in other states since 2000. Since its inception, it has been attended by thousands of people, many of whom have had life-saving procedures as a result of disease detected at DTC events.

The C.A.R.E. acronym stands for:

  • Carotid Artery Disease (the primary source of preventable strokes)
  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (the 10th leading cause of death in men)
  • Renal Artery Stenosis (responsible for at least 20% of patients on dialysis)
  • Extremity Artery Disease (a disease which has a mortality rate significantly higher than breast cancer and affects 12 million Americans)

Through the efforts of volunteers and the use of lectures, educational materials, free ultrasound testing and meetings with cardiovascular specialists, DTC brings the important message to the public that complications of cardiovascular disease can be prevented.

Cardiovascular disease is the number one health problem in this country today. More than half of Americans will die from complications of atherosclerotic disease; the root cause of cardiovascular disease and millions more will suffer debilitating complications that rob many Americans of a meaningful quality of life. One million Americans die of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disorders every year in the United States--that means 2 out of every 5 deaths in the United States, or one life every 33 seconds. Unfortunately, the majority of people with this disease are unaware of their problem until severe complications or death occur.

Cardiovascular disease is a systemic disease that affects the heart and arteries in the body. It is called coronary artery disease (CAD) when the heart is involved and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) when it involves the other arteries in the body such as the arms, legs, kidneys, intestines and the brain.

The testing portion of the program consists of a blood pressure check and a non-invasive ultrasound examination of your carotid arteries, abdominal aorta, and evaluation of the circulation in your legs. You will receive the results and a copy will be forwarded to your primary care physician.

The second component of the program involves attending an evening of informative lectures about cardiovascular disease given by physicians and physician assistants. Topics include the definition of the various types of cardiovascular disease, causes and risks for the disease, and the latest treatment options. It is very important that you attend the lecture portion of this program. The information that you will receive is a vital part in preventing cardiovascular disease.

We have already raised funds and have initiated the mission of providing free programs to all at-risk individuals in our region. Potential at-risk criteria include age (greater than 60) and/or risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking or family history of cardiovascular disease. Individuals over the age of 50 who have any of the listed risk factors are also considered at-risk.