Types of Vascular Disease and Factors That Would Make You Susceptible

Your body comprises of a complex network of blood vessels such as arteries, capillaries and veins. This network of blood vessels functions to carry blood to and from the heart to the various parts of your body. As such, vascular ailments should be treated with utmost seriousness. One of the more common reasons why people would develop trouble with their vascular system is because of atherosclerosis. This is plaque accumulated within the blood vessels, making them stiff and decreasing the diameter of the vessel. Atherosclerosis can the cause a host of other vascular problems. Here are some of the type of vascular diseases that you should be wary of.

PAD

PAD stands for Peripheral Arterial Disease. It will affect the blood vessels that carry blood to other parts of your body excluding your heart and brain. When the peripheral blood vessels begin to develop atherosclerosis, there is a decreased flow of blood to the rest of your body. This can lead to development of a condition referred to as ischaemia, which is caused by insufficient flow of blood to your body's tissue. There are a number of symptoms associated with PAD. These symptoms include cramps when engaging in physical activity, pain in your legs, fatigue in your legs, development of sores and even changes in your skin colour. Extensive PAD could lead to complete loss of circulation in some limbs, and this can cause gangrene to develop.

Aneurysms

An aneurysm refers to an uncharacteristic bulge that occurs on the side of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can develop in any type of blood vessel, but tend to commonly occur in a patient's aorta. When most people think of aneurysms, they tend to panic. However, not all aneurysms are a death sentence. Small aneurysms tend to be common and can be monitored until they go away on their own. Monitoring is crucial is because if the aneurysms begins to grow, then a vascular surgeon would have to contemplate ways to remove the aneurysms before it gets a chance to rupture.

It should be noted that the chances of developing vascular disease tend to increase the older you get.  This is because plaque deposits will naturally happen in your blood vessels over time. In addition to this, there are an array of other factors that would make you more susceptible to vascular disease. Some of these risk factors include:

  • Vascular diseases run in your family history   
  • Being pregnant
  • A sedentary lifestyle
  • Smoking
  • Being overweight

Share