Symptoms of Vascular Disease
The vascular system is the system of blood vessels that includes arteries, veins and lymph vessels. The arteries and veins carry blood from the heart to the tissues throughout your body and back again. This is called circulation.
Circulatory problems give different symptoms depending on the part of the body affected. The underlying causes are either a blockage of the blood vessel by cholesterol deposits or an enlargement of blood vessels (aneurysms) due to a weakening in the wall of the vessel. Vascular diseases involve occlusion, or narrowing of arteries by plaques, causing reduced blood flow through these vessels to your arms, leg, head and neck or to the abdominal organs, such as the kidneys and the bowel. Ballooning of the arteries, usually of the main artery of the body, the aorta, results in aortic aneurysms. Rupture of these may cause bleeding and even death.
Vascular disease can result in numerous problems: from uncontrollable high blood pressure due to the narrowing of the renal arteries to leg pain during physical activity (claudication) to deterioration of skin leading to ulcers and gangrene. If a condition is severe, it may require open vascular surgery or endovascular interventions, such as angioplasty or stents. Aortic aneurysms can be repaired with either stent-grafts or open surgery. Acute leg swelling due to blood clots may need treatment with drugs or interventions. Varicose veins or leg ulcers due to vein problems may need intensive medical treatment, surgery or other interventions.
|
Area |
Description |
Symptoms |
| Carotid Artery |
Carotid disease is a blockage of the carotid arteries, which may lead to strokes. |
- A sudden loss of vision in one eye
- Inability to speak clearly
- Weakness of an arm or leg
- Facial Droop
- Disorientation
|
| Abdominal Aorta |
Controls circulation to major organs and lower extremities. |
- Pain in buttocks and legs when walking
- High blood pressure
- Back and abdominal pain
- Pulsating mass in abdomen
|
| Femoro-Popliteal Arteries |
|
- Calf pain when walking like a charley horse, relieved by rest
- Pain at rest in severe cases
- Ulcers or gangrene in advanced cases
|
Should you have any questions about the symptoms of vascular disease,
talk with your physician or contact The Vascular Center at (864) 596-7428.
|