Your vascular system is an extensive network of arteries and veins, and the blood vessels that bring blood to and from your organs and tissues. Without healthy blood flow, your body can not function as it should.
Vascular disease is a group of conditions that affect the health of your arteries and veins and can lead to serious problems such as heart attack and stroke. Below, you can get some facts about the disease and learn how to reduce your risk.
how blood vessels work?
Your arteries bring blood to your heart in your body, giving your organs and tissues of oxygen and nutrients they need. Once your organs and tissues receive oxygen and nutrients, the blood returns to your heart through your veins.
When your blood vessels are healthy, supple and smooth, blood can move through them easily and keep your organs and tissue to work in the right direction. But if your blood vessels are difficult, narrow or blocked by plaque, the blood can not flow as it should. This means that your organs and tissues can not get the nutrients they need, which can cause a range of symptoms and even lead to serious health problems.
Types of vascular disease
Vascular disease can cause weaknesses in your blood vessels, or make them become narrow or blocked. The types of vascular disease include:
- abdominal aortic aneurysm a bulge or weakness in the main artery of your chest that supplies blood to your heart in your abdomen. If the aneurysm bursts, it can cause bleeding from life threatening.
- Atherosclerosis , or hardening of the arteries. This occurs when a hard substance called plaque builds up in your artery walls, making them hard and narrow, or completely blocked. Atherosclerosis can lead to serious problems such as heart attack or stroke.
- disease of the carotid artery , which occurs when the arteries that bring blood to your brain become narrow or blocked and can lead to strokes.
- peripheral arterial disease , which occurs when the arteries that supply blood to your legs and pelvis become narrow or blocked and can lead to pain, loss of function, and in severe cases, loss of a limb.
Am I at risk of vascular disease?
The risk of vascular disease gets higher as you get older. Certain medical conditions and habits can also make your risk, including:
- smoking
- High levels of cholesterol
- Hypertension
- diabetes
- Being overweight or obese
- not getting regular exercise
- Have an unhealthy diet
How is vascular disease treated?
treatment of vascular disease depends on what type you have, how severe, symptoms and other risk factors. Treatment may include:
- lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, getting regular exercise, a healthy diet and lose weight
- Surgery to clean plaque in the arteries, for a bypass (detour) around a blocked artery, or to repair an aneurysm
- balloon angioplasty and stenting, which uses a balloon to flatten plaque against the wall of your artery and a wire mesh tube called a stent to keep the artery open
Can I reduce my risk for vascular disease?
Your doctor can help you find ways to reduce your risk, such as changes to your lifestyle and get regular screenings for vascular disease.
to learn more, visit the Heart and Vascular Institute UPMC online or call 412-802-3333 to schedule an evaluation with a vascular specialist.
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