Vascular diseases affect the arteries, veins, and capillaries throughout your body. They can disrupt blood flow to various organs and tissues, causing potentially severe complications.
Vascular disease is any disease that threatens the health and functioning of your vascular system.
Your vascular system is the network of blood vessels, including arteries, veins, and capillaries, that carry blood throughout the body.
Here’s what you need to know about the most common types of vascular diseases.
Peripheral artery disease
When fatty plaque builds up in arteries, it can reduce blood flow through the peripheral arteries that carry blood away from the heart, causing peripheral artery disease (PAD) .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , African American and non-white Hispanic people have a greater likelihood of developing PAD than white people. Smoking is also a significant risk factor .
PAD most commonly affects the legs . About 1 in 4 people with PAD have symptoms like pain, aching, or cramping in their lower extremities, especially when walking. Leg weakness and numbness are also common. But 1 in 5 people don’t experience any symptoms.
Treatment for PAD can reduce any symptoms and your chances of experiencing a major health incident, like a heart attack or stroke. Your doctor may recommend you stop smoking, eat a heart healthy diet , exercise more often, and maintain a healthy weight for your body.
Medications doctors often use to treat PAD include:
Limb-threatening ischemia
Without treatment, PAD can progress to an advanced stage called limb-threatening ischemia (LTI).
In LTI, blood flow to the limbs has decreased to the point that it causes nerve damage. People with LTI may also develop leg ulcers or infections.
Symptoms of LTI include cramping, burning, and pain in the affected area. Some people can develop sudden-onset LTI, which is often characterized by weakness, coldness, and severe pain in the affected limb.
An endovascular procedure to reestablish blood flow may be necessary. This might include:
- angioplasty , which uses a slowly inflated balloon to widen the artery
- the placement of a stent to hold the artery open
- removal of plaque from the artery
Carotid artery disease
If plaque builds up in your carotid arteries — two large blood vessels in your neck — it can reduce or even block blood flow to your brain. If a blood clot or plaque breaks off and gets lodged in a small artery in your brain, you can experience a stroke .
It’s possible to not know you have carotid artery disease until it reaches a fairly advanced stage. You might experience a ministroke , also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or a full stroke.
In addition to healthy lifestyle changes and medication, a doctor may recommend surgery, such as:
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque inside your arteries, causing them to narrow. Plaque is a sticky substance made up of blood cells, cholesterol, fat, and other substances.
Depending on which arteries are affected, atherosclerosis can lead to a reduced flow of oxygen-rich blood to various parts of the body, resulting in conditions such as heart attack and stroke.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) notes that diseases linked to atherosclerosis are the leading cause of death in the United States.
It can also cause symptoms like angina, which is chest pain from a lack of oxygen-rich blood reaching the heart.
Eating a heart healthy diet and getting regular exercise can lower your risk. Some people may also benefit from medications such as those for high blood pressure or high cholesterol .
Aortic aneurysm
The aorta is the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. When the walls of your aorta become weakened or damaged, blood flowing through it can cause a bulge in the wall, known as an aneurysm .
An aneurysm can grow larger without any symptoms. If it ruptures or the artery wall tears, it can be life threatening. Smoking and stimulant use can increase the risk, as can other medical conditions.
Aortic aneurysms most often occur in the abdominal area. According to the NHLBI, abdominal aortic aneurysms most commonly occur in adults over age 65 .
Thoracic aortic aneurysms , which are less common, occur in the chest above the diaphragm .
Lifestyle changes and medications like aspirin, statins, and blood pressure medications can help. However, surgery may be necessary to repair larger aneurysms or aneurysms in certain locations.
Chronic venous insufficiency
If the valves that control blood flow through the veins don’t work well, they can cause chronic venous insufficiency . The blood can pool in your legs instead of flowing freely back to your heart, causing:
- pain and swelling
- cramps
- varicose veins
- ulcers
- discolored skin
People who are pregnant or overweight have a greater risk. Other risk factors include:
- increasing age
- high blood pressure
- a history of smoking
- a history of blood clots , including deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
A healthcare professional may recommend elevating your legs. Other possible treatments include:
Varicose veins
Varicose veins are swollen or twisted veins just under the skin that can develop when blood pressure inside the veins increases, or the vein walls weaken.
People with obesity or overweight, those who are sedentary, or anyone pregnant tend to have the greatest risk of developing varicose veins.
Varicose veins are especially common in the legs, where you may also experience pain and swelling.
A doctor may recommend that you avoid standing or sitting for long periods. Wearing compression stockings can also help reduce pain and swelling. In severe cases, surgery can seal off or even remove a varicose vein.
Deep vein thrombosis
A blood clot can develop in a deep vein, causing pain, swelling, and discolored skin in the affected area. The skin may also feel warm to the touch.
DVT occurs if the flow of blood in the area has slowed down or the composition of the blood has changed so it clots more easily. Typically, the clots develop in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis.
Your risk of DVT increases:
- as you age
- if you remain immobile or sedentary for long periods
- if you have a family history of blood clots
- if you have a blood clotting disorder
People who are pregnant or taking hormonal birth control also have an increased risk.
Doctors often treat DVT with blood thinners.
Pulmonary embolism
A blood clot deep in a vein can break loose and travel to a lung, blocking an artery and causing a pulmonary embolism . In some cases, a blood clot will develop inside the lung.
You may experience pain in your chest, shortness of breath, and a rapid heart rate. Less commonly, you might have:
- coughing
- sweating
- a sense of anxiety
Doctors use blood-thinning medications to treat and prevent pulmonary embolisms. Without treatment, they can lead to potentially life threatening complications .
Fibromuscular dysplasia
Irregular cell growth in artery walls can cause them to bulge or narrow. Known as fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) , this condition typically affects the carotid arteries but can also affect arteries in the brain and kidneys.
FMD tends to affect people between the ages of 25 and 50 years old , and it’s more common in women than in men.
The cause is currently unknown, and there’s no standard treatment protocol.
Vasculitis
Your immune system can mistakenly attack your own blood vessels, causing inflammation known as vasculitis . It can develop as a reaction to certain medications, cancer, or viral infections, or it can be autoimmune.
Symptoms can include:
- nodules or sores on the skin
- rashes
- shortness of breath
- cough
- numbness in the affected foot or hand
- joint pain
- sinus problems
- headache
- fatigue
Doctors often treat the inflammation with glucocorticoid medication , but they can also use immunosuppressants and biologic drugs in some instances.
Lymphedema
Lymphedema occurs when lymph fluid builds up between the skin and the muscle. The affected area — usually an arm or leg — becomes swollen, heavy, and tight, possibly with some tingling.
Cancer, cancer treatments, and damage to the lymph nodes or vessels that carry lymph fluid can cause lymphedema. Essentially, the lymph fluid is unable to drain, causing the swelling.
Exercise, massage therapy, and compression sleeves are common treatments for lymphedema .
Rare vascular diseases
Other rare vascular diseases include:
Several rare forms of more common vascular diseases also exist. For example, vasculitis may present as:
Who is at risk of vascular disease?
Factors that increase your risk of developing vascular disease include:
Certain underlying conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels may also affect your risk, including:
Eating a diet high in saturated or trans fats can also elevate your risk for some types of vascular disease.
Reach out to a healthcare professional right away if you develop any new symptoms, especially ones that worry you.
Each vascular condition has its own symptoms and progression, requiring its own treatment plan. Some conditions may need ongoing treatment, but at times, you may need immediate treatment.
Takeaway
It’s important to have a healthy, functioning vascular system to transport blood throughout your body. When diseases affect the vascular system, they can increase your risk of experiencing serious complications, including heart attack or stroke.
Early intervention can help minimize this risk. Notify a doctor if you notice any symptoms so you can get the appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
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