Vascular Diseases: Conditions of the Arteries, Veins and Capillaries

The vascular system is the body's network of blood vessels:

• arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to tissues and organs;
• veins carry blood and waste products back to the heart;
• capillaries, tiny vessels linking the smallest arteries and veins, have thin, leaky walls that let materials pass between blood and tissue.

Vascular diseases affect this system. They are common and can be serious.

Some types

• Aneurysm: a bulge or "balloon" in an artery wall.
• Atherosclerosis: a build-up of plaque (fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances from the blood) inside arteries.
• Blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
• Coronary artery disease and carotid artery disease: arteries narrowed or blocked, usually by plaque.
• Raynaud phenomenon: blood vessels narrow in the cold or under stress.
• Stroke: blood flow to the brain stops.
• Varicose veins: swollen, twisted veins visible just under the skin.
• Vasculitis: inflamed blood vessels.

Causes

They depend on the disease, and include genetics; conditions such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure; infection; injury; and medicines, including hormones. Sometimes the cause is unknown.

Risk factors

Common ones include older age; conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, such as diabetes or high cholesterol; a family history of vascular or heart disease; infection or injury that damages veins; lack of exercise; obesity; pregnancy; sitting or standing still for long periods; and smoking.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Symptoms differ from one disease to another. A health care provider will examine you, ask about your symptoms and medical history, and may order imaging tests or blood tests.

Treatment

It depends on the disease and how severe it is:

• lifestyle changes, such as a heart-healthy diet and more exercise;
• medicines, such as blood pressure medicines, blood thinners, cholesterol medicines and clot-dissolving drugs, sometimes delivered straight to a blood vessel through a catheter;
• non-surgical procedures, such as angioplasty, stenting and vein ablation;
• surgery.

Prevention

• Eat a heart-healthy diet and exercise more.
• Don't smoke; if you do, ask your provider about the best way to quit.
• Keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control, and if you have diabetes, your blood sugar too.
• Avoid sitting or standing for long stretches: if you sit all day, get up and move about every hour or so, and on long trips consider compression stockings and stretch your legs regularly.

Sources

• MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Vascular Diseases." https://medlineplus.gov/vasculardiseases.html
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