2. Definition
Vascular Disease (Vasculopathy) affects the blood vessels that carry
oxygen and nutrients throughout your body and remove waste from
your tissues. Common vascular problems happen because plaque
(made of fat and cholesterol) slows down or blocks blood flow inside
your arteries or veins.
3. TYPES OF BLOOD DISEASE
Types of Vascular Disease:
• Thrombosis
• Varicose vein
• Arteriosclerosis
• Stroke
4. Vascular disease causes include:
• High cholesterol.
• High blood pressure.
• Smoking or using tobacco products.
Causes
5. Symptoms
Chest pain, squeezing or discomfort (angina), which may get worse with
activity or emotional stress.
Discomfort in the left arm, jaw, neck, back or abdomen along with chest pain.
Shortness of breath.
Tiredness and lack of energy.
6. Thrombosis
Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot, known as a thrombus, within a
blood vessel. It prevents blood from flowing normally through the circulatory
system.
Thrombosis can be deadly, and can affect any age, race, gender, and ethnicity.
Blood clotting, also known as coagulation, is the body’s first line of defense
against bleeding. When we hurt ourselves, our clotting system forms a “plug”
or “seal” to protect us from losing too much blood. Our bodies often break
down the clot after we’ve healed – but sometimes, clots form inappropriately
or fail to dissolve after an injury. A blood clot that forms and stays in a blood
vessel is called a thrombus.
7. Types of Thrombosis
There are two main types of thrombosis:
Arterial thrombosis:Arterial thrombosis refers to a blood clot that
blocks an artery. Arteries carry blood away from the heart to other
parts of the body. Arterial blood clots can block blood flow to the
heart and brain, often resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
Venous thrombosis:Venous thrombosis also known as venous
thromboembolism or VTE, refers to a blood clot in a vein. Veins
carry blood to the heart from other parts of the body. VTE is a
condition that includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary
embolism (PE)
8. Risk factors that contribute to thrombosis
Surgery
Major trauma, such as a car accident, fall, or head injury
Infection
Inflammatory or autoimmune disease
Active cancer/chemotherapy
Estrogen-containing birth control pills and hormone replacement therapies
Pregnancy
Obesity
Leg paralysis
History of heart attack or stroke
Family history of blood clots
Genetic or acquired clotting disorders
9. Symptoms of Thrombosis
throbbing or cramping pain in 1 leg (rarely both legs), usually in the calf or thigh.
swelling in 1 leg (rarely both legs)
warm skin around the painful area.
red or darkened skin around the painful area.
swollen veins that are hard or sore when you touch them.
10. Treatment of Thrombosis
Blood thinners. These medicines, also called anticoagulants, help prevent blood
clots from getting bigger.
Clot busters (thrombolytics). These drugs are used for more-serious types of
DVT or PE , or if other medications aren't working.
Support stockings (compression stockings).
11. Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins. Any vein that is close to the skin's
surface (superficial) can become varicosed. Varicose veins most commonly
affect the veins in the legs. That's because standing and walking increase the
pressure in the veins of the lower body
12. Symptoms of Varicose Vein
Varicose veins might not cause pain. Signs of varicose veins include:
Veins that are dark purple or blue.
Veins that appear twisted and bulging, often appearing like cords on the legs.
When painful signs and symptoms of varicose veins occur, they might include:
An achy or heavy feeling in the legs.
Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in the lower legs.
Worsened pain after sitting or standing for a long time.
Itching around one or more of the veins.
Changes in skin color around a varicose vein.
13. Causes of Varicose Vein
Weak or damaged valves can lead to varicose veins. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the
rest of the body. Veins return blood from the rest of the body to the heart. To return blood to the
heart, the veins in the legs must work against gravity.
Muscle contractions in the lower legs act as pumps, and elastic vein walls help blood return to
the heart. Tiny valves in the veins open as blood flows toward the heart, then close to stop blood
from flowing backward. If these valves are weak or damaged, blood can flow backward and pool
in the veins, causing the veins to stretch or twist.
14. Risk Factors
The following can increase the risk of developing varicose veins:
Age: Aging causes wear and tear on the valves in the veins that help control blood
flow. Eventually, that wear causes the valves to allow some blood to flow back into
the veins, where it collects.
Sex:Women are more likely to develop the condition. Hormonal changes before a
menstrual period or during pregnancy or menopause might be a factor because
female hormones tend to relax vein walls. Hormone treatments, such as birth
control pills, might increase the risk of varicose veins.
Pregnency: During pregnancy, the blood volume in the body increases. This change
supports the growing baby but can also enlarge the veins in the legs.
Family history: If other family members had varicose veins, there's a greater
chance you will too.
Obesity: Being overweight puts added pressure on veins.
Standing or sitting for long periods of time: Movement helps blood flow.
15. Treatment of Varicose Veins
Treatment for varicose veins may include self-care measures, compression stockings, and surgeries or
procedures:
Sclerotherapy.
Laser treatment.
Catheter-based procedures using radiofrequency or laser energy.
High ligation and vein stripping.
16. Arteriosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a hardening and narrowing of our arteries caused by
cholesterol plaques lining the artery over time. It can put blood flow at risk as
our arteries become blocked.
It called arteriosclerosis or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. It’s the usual
cause of heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral vascular disease. what together
are called cardiovascular disease.
17. Causes of Atherosclerosis
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from our heart throughout our body. They're lined by
a thin layer of cells called the endothelium. It keeps the inside of our arteries in shape and
smooth, which keeps blood flowing.
Atherosclerosis begins with damage to the endothelium. Common causes include:
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Inflammation, like from arthritis or lupus
Obesity or diabetes
Smoking
18. Symptoms of Atherosclerosis
Patient might not have symptoms until patient’s artery is nearly closed or until you have a heart attack
or stroke. Symptoms can also depend on which artery is narrowed or blocked.
Symptoms related to your coronary arteries include:
Arrhythmia, an unusual heartbeat
Pain or pressure in upper body, including chest, arms, neck, or jaw. This is known as angina.
Shortness of breath
Symptoms related to the arteries that deliver blood to brain include:
Numbness or weakness in your arms or legs
19. Symptoms of Arteriosclerosis
A hard time speaking or understanding someone who’s talking
Drooping facial muscles
Paralysis
Severe headache
Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Symptoms related to the arteries of your arms, legs, and pelvis include:
Leg pain when walking
Numbness
20. Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis
These risk factors are behind more than 90% of all heart attacks:
Abdominal obesity (spare tire)
Diabetes
High alcohol intake (more than one drink for women, one or two drinks for men, per day)
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Not eating fruits and vegetables
Not exercising regularly
Smoking
Stress
21. Treatment of Atherosclerosis
There are several options to treat this disease, including:
Lifestyle changes:
Avoid alcohol
Avoid smoking
Eat a heart-healthy diet
If you're overweight, talk to your doctor about weight-loss options.
Manage stress
22. Treatment of Arteriosclerosis
Medications:
Statins will help reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood.
Anticoagulants “blood-thinners” will help treat, prevent, and reduce blood clotting.
Beta blockers will help reduce your blood pressure.
Blood sugar medications will help regulate your blood glucose levels.
Anti-inflammatory medications will help reduce inflammation and relief pain.
24. Stroke
stroke occurs when a blockage or bleed of the blood vessels either interrupts or
reduces the supply of blood to the brain. When this happens, the brain does not
receive enough oxygen or nutrients, and brain cells start to die.
Stroke is a cerebrovascular disease. This means that it affects the blood vessels
that feed the brain oxygen. If the brain does not receive enough oxygen, damage
may start to occur.
This is a medical emergency. Although many strokes are treatable, some can lead
to disability or death.
25. Types of Stroke
There are three main types of stroke:
Ischemic Stroke: This is the most common type of stroke, making up 87% of all
cases. A blood clot prevents blood and oxygen from reaching an area of the
brain.
Hemorrhagic stroke: This occurs when a blood vessel ruptures. These are
usually the result of aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)Trusted
Source.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA): This occurs when blood flow to a part of the
brain is inadequate for a brief period of time. Normal blood flow resumes after a
short amount of time, and the symptoms resolve without treatment. Some
people call this a ministroke.
26. Causes of Stroke
Each type of stroke has a different set of potential causes.The following sections
describe the specific causes of each type of stroke.
Ischemic stroke:
This type of stroke occurs due to blockages or narrowing in the arteries that
provide blood to the brain. This causes ischemia, or a severely reduced blood flow,
which damages brain cells.
Blood clots often cause ischemic stroke. Clots can form in the brain arteries and
other blood vessels in the body. The bloodstream carries these into narrower
arteries in the brain.
Fatty plaque deposits within the arteries can also cause clots that result in
ischemia.
27. Hemorrhagic stroke
Leaky or burst arteries in the brain can give rise to hemorrhagic strokes.
Leaked blood puts pressure on brain cells and damages them. It also reduces the
blood supply that can reach the brain tissue after the hemorrhage.
Blood vessels can burst and spill blood into the brain or near the surface of the
brain. This may also send blood into the space between the brain and the skull.
Having hypertension, experiencing physical trauma, taking blood-thinning
medications, and having an aneurysm can all make a blood vessel leak or burst.
Intracerebral hemorrhage is the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke. This
occurs when brain tissue floods with blood after an artery bursts.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage is another type of hemorrhagic stroke. These are less
common. In a subarachnoid hemorrhage, bleeding occurs in the area between the
brain and the thin tissues that cover it.
28. Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
TIAs only briefly interrupt the flow of blood to the brain. They are similar to ischemic strokes, in
that they occur due to clots.
People should treat them as medical emergencies, even if the symptoms are temporary. They
serve as warning signs for future strokes and indicate a partially blocked artery or clot source in
the heart.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over a third of people who
experience a TIA have a major stroke within a year if they do not receive any treatment. Around
10–15% of people will have a major stroke within 3 months of experiencing a TIA.
29. Symptoms of Stroke
The symptoms of a stroke often appear without warning. Some of the main symptoms include:
confusion, including difficulty speaking and understanding speech
a headache, possibly with altered consciousness or vomiting
numbness or an inability to move parts of the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the
body
vision problems in one or both eyes
difficulty walking, including dizziness and a lack of coordination
30. Symptoms of Stroke
Stroke can lead to long-term health problems. Depending on the speed of the diagnosis and
treatment, a person can experience temporary or permanent disabilities after a stroke.
Some people may also experience:
bladder or bowel control problems
depression
paralysis or weakness on one or both sides of the body
difficulty controlling or expressing their emotions
31. Treatment of Stroke
Treatment for strokeProper medical evaluation and prompt treatment are vital to recovering
from a stroke.
depends on the type of stroke:
Ischemic stroke and TIA:Since a blood clot or blockage in the brain causes these stroke
types, they’re largely treated with similar techniques.
They can include:
Stents:
If a doctor finds where artery walls have weakened, they may perform a procedure to inflate the
narrowed artery and support the walls of the artery with a stent.
32. Treatment of Stroke
Clot-breaking drugs:
Thrombolytic drugs can break up blood clots in our brain’s arteries, which will stop the stroke and
reduce damage to the brain.
One such drug, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), or Alteplase IV r-tPA, is considered the gold
standard in ischemic stroke treatment.
This drug works by dissolving blood clots quickly.
People who receive a tPA injection are more likely to recover from a stroke and less likely to have
any lasting disability as a result of the stroke.
33. Treatment of Stroke
Mechanical thrombectomy:
During this procedure, a doctor inserts a catheter into a large blood vessel inside head. They then
use a device to pull the clot out of the vessel. This surgery is most successful if it’s performed 6 to
24 hours after the stroke begins.
34. Treatment of Stroke
Surgery:
In the rare instances that other treatments don’t work, surgery can remove a blood clot and
plaques from your arteries.
This surgery may be done with a catheter. If the clot is especially large, a surgeon may open an
artery to remove the blockage.
35. Treatment of Stroke
Hemorrhagic stroke:
Strokes caused by bleeds or leaks in the brain require different treatment strategies.
Treatments for hemorrhagic stroke include:
Coiling:
During this procedure, doctor guides a long tube to the area of hemorrhage or weakened blood
vessel. They then install a coil-like device in the area where the artery wall is weak. This blocks
blood flow to the area, reducing bleeding.
36. Treatment of Stroke
Medications
Unlike with an ischemic stroke, having a hemorrhagic stroke, the treatment goal is to make blood
clot. Therefore, patient’s may be given medication to counteract any blood thinners he take.
Patient may also be prescribed drugs that can:
reduce blood pressure
lower the pressure in your brain
prevent seizures
prevent blood vessel constriction
37. Treatment of Stroke
Surgery
If doctor sees that an aneurysm has burst, they may do surgery to clip the aneurysm and prevent
additional bleeding. Likewise, a craniotomy may be needed to relieve the pressure on the brain
after a large stroke.
In addition to emergency treatment, healthcare team will advise patient on ways to prevent
future strokes.
