Signs and Symptoms of Common Vascular Disorders

The vascular system, also known as the circulatory system, consists of blood vessels and organs like the heart. The primary function of the circulatory system is to transport blood and lymph fluid throughout your body. Some conditions may prevent or slow the process of carrying blood to and from your heart. If you have vascular disorders Oxnard, you may experience severe health complications like stroke, heart attack, and blood clots. You should be able to identify the signs and symptoms of vascular disorders to seek timely and effective treatment. Consequently, below are the different vascular diseases and their signs and symptoms.

• Atherosclerosis

The most common cause of vascular disorders is atherosclerosis. Also called atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the condition is characterized by the accumulation of fats, cholesterol, and other substances on the walls of arteries. The plaque buildup causes the hardening and narrowing of the blood vessels, which blocks normal blood flow.

Although the cause of plaque formation remains a mystery, experts understand its various risk factors, including being overweight, smoking, having high blood pressure, and having a sedentary lifestyle.

Often atherosclerosis has no symptoms. You may only realize you have atherosclerosis when an artery ruptures or severe plaque formation prevents blood flow. Other potential symptoms are chest pain, poor wound healing, and heart attack.

• Atherosclerotic heart disease

Also known simply as coronary artery disease (CAD), this particular vascular disorder is the most common illness in America that causes the death of adults. The damage to coronary arteries may be due to cholesterol buildup, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Coronary artery disease may cause different health complications, such as heart failure, heart attack, chest pain, and irregular rhythms of the heart. Other symptoms of CAD include fatigue, difficulty breathing, pain in the upper extremities, and unusual perspiration.

You may not have any signs and symptoms before a heart attack triggered by coronary artery disease.

• Chronic limb-threatening ischemia

The vascular disorder is characterized by severe blocking of blood flow in your limbs (hands, legs, and feet). Critical limb ischemia is a later stage of another vascular disorder called peripheral artery disease (PAD).

The pain you feel in your limbs may persist even when resting. Apart from pain, expect the affected limb to be pale and numb.

• Peripheral vascular disease

The disease affects blood vessels further away from your heart and brain. The accumulation of fatty deposits in your arteries restricts blood flow to your arms and legs. Because of the restriction in blood supply, you risk limb amputation and loss of life.

Common symptoms of peripheral vascular disease include skin discoloration, lack of hair or growth of toenails, and sores that heal slowly or refuse to heal on the affected leg.

You may feel pain radiating from your buttocks, thighs, or calf as you exercise or walk. As a result, you may find yourself limiting movements.

• Chronic venous insufficiency

This particular vascular disorder occurs when the valves of the veins in your legs and feet malfunction and thus do not allow the return of deoxygenated blood to the heart. Therefore, there is the formation of pools of blood in your veins, darkening of affected regions, soreness, and swelling of blood vessels.

Contact Link Neuroscience Institute today for specialist diagnosis and treatment of your vascular disorder.