Vascular Disease

Vascular diseases impact the circulatory system and include any conditions that affect the network of blood vessels. This includes diseases connected to your lymph vessels, veins, arteries, and blood disorders, which affect your circulatory system.

Arteries and veins allow blood to circulate through your arms, legs, and internal organs. When an abnormal condition affects the blood vessels, this can have serious consequences.

Your vascular system has three primary types of blood vessels:

Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to every other part of your body. The only artery with another job is your pulmonary artery, which carries oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle to your lungs so that carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen.

Veins carry your blood back to the heart, where they get replenished with oxygen.
Capillaries connect your arteries to the veins.

Vascular disease can impact any of the above blood vessels.

Causes of Vascular Disease

For some vascular issues, there is no known cause. For other vascular problems, there is a range of different causes, including:

Blood clots
Infection
Injury
Medicines
Diabetes
Use of any tobacco product
High blood pressure
High cholesterol

Diagnosing Vascular Disease

Diagnosing vascular disease involves a physical exam, including a detailed medical history. Your cardiologist will order additional testing if they suspect you may have vascular disease.

First, vascular studies are ordered, such as:

Carotid ultrasound
Arterial ultrasound: right, left, or bilateral
Venous upper extremity ultrasound:: right, left, or bilateral
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening
Renal artery study
Arterial LE: right, left, or bilateral
Venous LE: right, left, or bilateral
AV - fistula
Echocardiogram

Without consultation, these tests may also be shared with your primary care physician (PCP). If any of the vascular studies are abnormal, the following tests may be ordered:

Common tests include:

Catheter angiography
CT angiography
MR angiography

These additional tests can help to confirm a potential vascular disease diagnosis.

Types of Vascular Disease

Several other conditions can fall under vascular disease, including any conditions affecting your network of blood vessels.

Reducing Risk of Vascular Disease

With vascular disease, you can’t control certain risk facts, such as genetics or age, but there are other lifestyle choices you can control that can significantly reduce your risk of developing vascular disease.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Get active and exercise regularly.
- Move at least once an hour if you are stationary for extended periods due to your job or lifestyle.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce your stress level.
- Avoid all tobacco products, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and vaping.
- Manage your cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Manage your diabetes.

Treating Vascular Disease

Since many conditions can qualify as vascular diseases, there is also a wide range of treatments for them.

The most common treatments include eating healthier and increasing the amount you exercise. You may also need to take specific medication, or you may need a surgical procedure depending on the condition you have.

Vascular disease can be a lifelong issue. That is why lifestyle changes are so essential for managing vascular diseases. The outlook is really good if you get treatment early, make changes, and work to manage your condition.

Managing Vascular Disease in St. Petersburg, FL

If you have vascular disease, you will need ongoing treatment and care. The Sydnor Cardiovascular Center team can help you with the care you need. You can entrust care for your heart and vascular disease to Dr. Ahiable.

To schedule an appointment, call us at 727-300-2282 or request an appointment online.