Arterial diseases affect the arteries of your body.
When they develop, oxygenated blood doesnt reach its destination.
Arterial diseases can impact different parts of the body and cause a lot of problems.
The tissues involvede.g., toes versuskidneysdetermine the symptoms and severity of the problem.
Reaching every corner of the body, arteries deliver vital oxygen and nutrients to the entire body.
Without this system, tissues would die.
They can develop for a long time without symptoms.
When this happens, its a medical emergency.
Aneurysms can happen in different locations.
The most common ones include:
The cause of aneurysms is sometimes unclear.
Often aneurysms are found by chance during imaging tests done for other reasons.
Medicines and surgery are the two main treatments for aneurysms.
It is primarily sparked by the buildup ofplaquein the arteries.
However, PAD can also impact other vessels, causing conditions like renal artery disease or intestinal ischemic syndrome.
Usually, this process is the result ofatherosclerosis.
Being overweight, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, and smoking tobacco are risk factors for CAD.
Chest painor discomfort is the most common symptom of CAD.
Carotid Artery Disease
Your carotid arteries are two large blood vessels in your neck.
They supply your brain and head with blood.
If you havecarotid artery disease, the arteries become narrow or blocked due to a buildup of plaque.
Another sign is atransient ischemic attack(TIA).
It is like a stroke, but it only lasts for less than 24 hours.
Symptoms of a stroke and TIA can include:
Even if your TIA symptoms stop quickly, call 911.
Like carotid artery disease, vertebrobasilar disease increases a persons risk of having a stroke or TIA.
Vertebrobasilar disease is twice as common in men than women and typically occurs in the elderly.
This can result in pain and restrict blood flow.
Your doctor may also prescribe blood thinners to treat a blood clot.
Why Is Diabetes a Risk Factor for Vascular Diseases?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a test to screen for arterial diseases?
Are arterial diseases reversible?
What is the most common arterial disease?
How does an arterial disease lead to necrosis?
Necrosis is the medical term for cell death.
Cells die when they become injured or their supply of oxygen and nutrients are cut off (ischemia).
Cells die at different rates without blood flow.
For example, brain cells can die in as few as five minutes without oxygen supplied by blood.
Arterial disease can lead to necrosis by reducing or stopping blood flow to various parts of the body.
How are arterial diseases diagnosed?
What pop in of specialist should I see if Im having symptoms of an arterial disease?
Typically, a vascular specialist will guide your diagnosis and treatment for arterial disease.
How does diabetes lead to arterial disease?
High levels of glucose in the blood damage vessels and increase your likelihood of developing blockages from atherosclerosis.
Arterial diseases can occur in any part of your body.
University of Michigan Health.Arterial (artery) disease.
University of Rochester Medical Center.About the heart and blood vessels.
Penn Medicine.Types of aneurysms.
American Heart Association.Whats an aneurysm?
National Institutes of Health.Aortic aneurysm.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Peripheral artery disease (PAD).
American Heart Association.About peripheral artery disease.
American Heart Association.Prevention and treatment of PAD.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Coronary artery disease (CAD).
Cleveland Clinic.Coronary artery disease.
Society for Vascular Surgery.Carotid artery disease.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Carotid artery disease.
University of Michigan Health.Vertebrobasilar disease.
Cleveland Clinic.Thoracic outlet syndrome.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Thoracic outlet syndrome.
Vascular Cures.Types of vascular disease.
Kalogeris T, Baines CP, Krenz M, Korthuis RJ.Cell biology of ischemia/reperfusion injury.Int Rev Cell Mol Biol.
