Vascular Disease
The vascular system is the transport system in your body. You may also know it as the circulatory system. It covers all the blood vessels from the largest arteries to the smallest capillaries. A vascular disease is a condition that disrupts the functioning of this system. There are many types
of vascular diseases and given how massive the circulatory is, they could happen anywhere on the body.
In most cases, vascular conditions start from the normal flow of blood being restricted or completely blocked. The severity of such conditions varies with some like varicose veins not often proving fatal while others quickly progressing to life threatening conditions.
Types of vascular diseases
There are many vascular diseases, some are common, affecting millions, and others are rare. Some of the vascular diseases include:
• Aneurysm: It is a bulge in the walls of an artery
• Atherosclerosis: it refers to the build-up of plaque inside arteries which causes blockage or narrowing of arteries
• Blood clots: A clot occurs when clotting factors cause blood to become a solid mass. When it happens inside a blood vessel, it is called a thrombus and can dislodge and move through the bloodstream causing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or stroke.
• Carotid artery disease: A condition causing the narrowing or blocking of the artery
supplying the brain.
• Coronary artery disease: A condition causing the narrowing or blocking of the artery
supplying the heart muscle.
• Peripheral artery disease: A blockage in the arteries supplying blood to the rest of the body like legs. It can lead to pain and cramps and, in severe cases, total loss of circulation, causing loss of limbs.
Cause and risk factors of vascular disease
Causes of vascular diseases vary depending on the specific condition. In some cases, the cause
may be unknown. However, most vascular diseases are caused by:
• Atherosclerosis
• Blockages in the blood vessel by either mass debris or blood clot
• Trauma
• Vasculitis – a type of inflammation
• Medications including hormones
• Genetics
Besides the causes, certain conditions place one at a high risk of developing one form of vascular
disease or the other. The main risk factors are:
• Age- the risk for vascular diseases increases with age
• Having health conditions that can affect blood vessels and the heart, including diabetes and high blood cholesterol
• Family history of vascular disease
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking
• Stress
Vascular disease treatment
Treatment of the vascular diseases depends on the kind of disease and the severity. The doctor will
conduct a physical examination and even use several imaging techniques to establish your condition. Treatment may include:
• Enacting lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and doing exercises
• Using a healthy diet to control blood sugar and bodyweight
• Using medication
• Non-surgical procedures like stenting and angioplasty
• Surgery
If your vascular condition is detected late or you do not receive proper treatment for your condition, it could result in disability or death. Often, severe cases start from a simple blockage or blood clots that were ignored or undetected. Do not take too long to have your condition diagnosed and treated.
For patients in Washington, Washington, Vascular specialists bring international standard
treatment to you. Thanks to our high-quality outpatient vascular treatment center, you can have all the specialists you need at a location near you. We have locations in Takoma Park, Largo, and
Frederick, Maryland. We have been open since 2005 and have an array of vascular specialists,
including vascular surgeons, cardiologists, and endovascular specialists. We also have all the
diagnostic and treatment equipment for all kinds of vascular diseases. Visit us today, and let us get
you better.
