A Quick Overview of Vascular Disease

Vascular disease is a type of condition that affects the circulatory system. It could weaken or cause blockages to the vein or damage the valves in the veins, causing blood flow problems. Complications with the organs and other body structures may arise when this disease is left untreated, and blood flow gets completely blocked. You can avoid such complications by having your vascular disease treated by a doctor in Hamilton Township.

Types of Vascular Disease

• Buerger’s disease
• Peripheral venous disease
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Venous disease
• Blood clots in the veins
• Blood clotting disorders
• Lymphedema

Risk Factors

Anyone can have some form of vascular disease, but it is more common in older people. Other factors that can increase your risk factors are:

• Family history of vascular disease
• Pregnancy
• Injury or illness
• Long periods of standing or sitting
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Health conditions that affect the blood vessels and heart like high cholesterol or diabetes.

Causes

Vascular disease is caused by inflammation and weakness of the arteries and veins, as well as fatty deposit build up in the blood vessels. These deposits can accumulate over a long period of time but remain symptomless until there is significant damage to the veins and arteries, compromising blood flow to the muscles and vital organs. This can cause chronic pain, lack of mobility, and even tissue death.

Other possible causes include:

• Atherosclerosis
• Embolus/thrombus
• Trauma or injury

Symptoms

Some people have very little to no symptoms at all while others experience pain in their legs when walking, called claudication.

Symptoms of claudication include:

• Muscle pain
• Cramping in the arm or leg area

Simple activities like walking can trigger these symptoms but normally disappears only after a few minutes of rest. The location of the pain will depend on the area of the narrowed or clogged artery.

Treatments

There are several treatments available for vascular disease, which include:

• Angioplasty and vascular stenting
• Catheter embolization
• Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis

When left untreated, vascular disease may result in painful and even dangerous complications. Do not hesitate to consult with your doctor in Hamilton Township if you suspect they you may be suffering from vascular disease.