VASCULAR DISEASE (BLOOD VESSEL DISEASE)

There are many types of vascular disease. Below are the more common and serious ones, incuding their symptoms:

1. Stroke

• Trouble with speaking and understanding.
• Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg.
• Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes.
• Headache.
• Trouble with walking.

2. Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

• Painful cramping in your hip, thigh or calf muscles after certain activities, such as walking or climbing stairs (claudication)
• Leg numbness or weakness
• Coldness in your lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other side
• Sores on your toes, feet or legs that won’t heal
• A change in the color of your legs
• Hair loss or slower hair growth on your feet and legs
• Slower growth of your toenails
• Shiny skin on your legs
• No pulse or a weak pulse in your legs or feet
• Erectile dysfunction in men

3. Abdominal aortic aneurysm

• Sudden, intense and persistent abdominal or back pain, which can be described as a tearing sensation.
• Pain that radiates to your back or legs.
• Sweatiness.
• Clamminess.
• Dizziness.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Low blood pressure.

4. Carotid artery disease (CAD)

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face or limbs, often on only one side of the body
• Sudden trouble speaking and understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden dizziness or loss of balance
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

5. Pulmonary embolism

• Shortness of breath that may occur suddenly.
• Sudden, sharp chest pain that may become worse with deep breathing or coughing.
• Rapid heart rate.
• Rapid breathing.
• Sweating.
• Anxiety.
• Coughing up blood or pink, foamy mucus.
• Fainting.

6. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

• Pain
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Tenderness, and
• Redness of the leg or arm

DIAGNOSIS

Your doctor will perform a physical examination, ask about your symptoms and discuss your medical history. He will suggest one or more diagnostic tests. These include:

• Ultrasound. Special ultrasound imaging techniques, such as Doppler ultrasound, can help your doctor evaluate blood flow through your blood vessels and identify blocked or narrowed arteries.
• Blood tests. A sample of your blood can be used to measure your cholesterol and triglycerides and to check for diabetes.
• Angiography. By injecting a dye (contrast material) into your blood vessels, this test allows your doctor to view blood flow through your arteries as it happens. Your doctor is able to trace the flow of the contrast material using imaging techniques, such as X-ray imaging or procedures called magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or computerized tomography angiography (CTA).
• Ankle-brachial index (ABI). This is a common test used to diagnose peripheral artery disease. It compares the blood pressure in your ankle with the blood pressure in your arm. To get a blood pressure reading, your doctor uses a regular blood pressure cuff and a special ultrasound device to evaluate blood pressure and flow. You may walk on a treadmill and have readings taken before and immediately after exercising to capture the severity of the narrowed arteries during walking.

TREATMENT

The overall goals of treatment are to manage signs and symptoms, prevent worsening of the condition, and reduce the risk of complications. Treatment depends on the type of vascular disease, and includes lifestyle changes, medications, devices and surgery.