Blood Vessel Disorder - Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Introduction

Blood vessels are connected throughout the body for the circulation of blood. The blood vessels and arteries start as well and end at the heart. Both the blood and heart vessels form the circulatory system of our body. Our body contains about 60,000 miles or 96,560 kilometers of blood vessels.

The blood vessel consists of:

• Arteries.

• Arterioles.

• Capillaries.

• Venules.

• Veins.

What Is a Blood Vessel Disorder?

A blood vessel disorder is a condition that affects the arteries and/or veins. They affect blood flow, either by blocking or weakening blood vessels or by damaging the valves that are found in veins. They damage the organs and other parts of the body by decreasing or blocking the blood flow.

What Is the Purpose of Blood Vessels?

The main purpose of blood vessels is to provide blood to the organs and tissues in your body, which supplies them with the oxygen and nutrients they need to function. Blood vessels remove waste products and carbon dioxide away from your organs and tissues.

What Conditions and Disorders Affect the Blood Vessels?

Blood vessels are affected by the following:

• Aneurysm - It is a bulge formed in a weak or damaged portion of an artery. Aneurysms can be seen anywhere in the body. And when they rupture (break open), they cause internal bleeding, which can be life-threatening.

• Arterial Diseases - Such as coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, and peripheral artery disease cause arteries to narrow, usually due to atherosclerosis.

• Atherosclerosis - It is the disposition of plaque (cholesterol, fat, and other substances) inside your arteries. It may end up causing a stroke. Plaque, making the tubes narrow, reduces the blood flow to the extremities of your body.

• Blood Clots or Clumps of Blood - Form inside veins or arteries- clots end up blocking blood flow and can lead to deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, or blockage of an artery.

• High Blood Pressure or Hypertension - Occurs when there is too much force against the walls of the arteries.

• Raynaud's Disease - It narrows the arteries that supply blood to your skin in response to cold temperatures.

• Varicose Veins, or Twisted and Enlarged Veins - Are usually seen in the legs or feet.

• Vascular Malformations - These are clusters or connections between blood vessels.

• Vesiculitis - Inflammation is seen in blood vessels that can thicken and narrow and result in less blood flow.

• Other causes could be injury to the arms or legs, irregular anatomy of muscle and ligament, and/or infection.

How Common Are Blood Vessel Disorders?

About one percent of the population suffers from this condition.

Who Gets Blood Vessel Disorders?

Your risk of getting blood vessel disorder increases if you:

• Are older than the age of 65.

• Are overweight/obese.

• Have diabetes or high cholesterol.

• Smoke frequently.

• Do not exercise regularly.

• Have a predisposed condition that damages your blood vessels.

• Have a family history of blood vessel disorder.

• History of heart diseases.

• Male gender.

• Postmenopausal women or above the age of 50.

Risk factors that may be treated include,

• Coronary artery disease.

• Diabetes.

• High cholesterol

• High blood pressure

• Overweight

• Physical inactivity

• Smoking or use of tobacco products.

What Are the Symptoms of Blood Vessel Disorders?

Symptoms may not be seen until a serious condition prevails. They vary widely across the different types of blood vessel disorders. Some, such as aneurysms or vascular malformation.

In general, talk to your doctor if you experience:

• Changes in skin color and appearance of bluish skin tone.

• Coldness or numbness in the extremities of the body such as feet, arms, and legs.

• Difficulty performing physical activities, often complaining of pain.

• Fatigue (tiredness).

• Breathing issues.

• The lower extremities (legs and feet) are often found shiny, brittle and thin-skinned.

• Weak pulse in the legs and feet.

• Less blood flow causes necrosis of tissues. It can lead to gangrene.

• Loss of body hair, specifically on legs.

• Impotence in males.

• Wounds that will not heal over pressure points, such as heals or ankles.

• Numbness, weakness, or heaviness in muscle.

• Pain at rest, commonly in the toes, and at night while lying flat.

• When the legs are elevated, even lesser blood flow, giving a pale appearance to the legs.

• Complete movement of the body is not achieved.

• Complaints of severe pain as the artery and veins become narrow.

• Toenails often become thick.

How Are Blood Vessel Disorders Diagnosed?

A variety of tests is advised to diagnose problems in your blood vessels, including:

• Electrocardiography.

• Ultrasound.

• Echocardiography.

• Exercise stress test.

• CT scan.

• MRI.

• Angiography.

• Cardiac catheterization.

• Tilt table test.

• Ankle-brachial index.

• Reactive hyperemia test.

How Are Blood Vessel Disorders Treated?

Treatment for blood vessel disorders may include:

• Lifestyle Changes: One can reduce the risk of blood vessel disorder by maintaining a healthy lifestyle which includes regular exercising, not smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and avoiding unhealthy food habits.

• Medication: It has been found that meditation helps with reducing and maintaining high blood pressure and also controls cholesterol levels.

• Nonsurgical Procedures: The minimally invasive interventions are there for some blood vessel disorders, imaging to guide the catheter to the blood vessel. They can easily treat clots, aneurysms, and severely narrow blood vessels.

• Surgery: One may need open surgery for blood vessel conditions that cannot be cured or improved solely with medication or other nonsurgical treatments.

• Medicines: Can be given to improve blood flow, such as antiplatelet agents (blood thinners) and medicines that relax the blood vessel walls.

How Can I Keep My Blood Vessels Healthy?

It is crucial to keep the blood vessels healthy, to do so:

• Get into the habit of eating a balanced diet that is low in sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fats.

• Exercise accordingly and maintain a good sleep cycle.

• Maintain a check on your blood pressure.

• Avoid smoking and alcohol intake.

• Reducing fat, cholesterol, simple carbohydrates (such as sweets), and increased amounts of fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, and lean meats in deity habits.

• Maintaining an adequate weight according to body-mass index.

• Anaerobic workout at least four times a week or four to five hours a week.

• Control of diabetes and blood pressure.

Complications of blood vessel disorder:

• Amputation (loss of a limb), in some cases.

• Poor wound healing.

• Movement is restricted and painful.

• Extremities are always painful.

• Stroke, in some cases.

Conclusion

Inflammation of the blood vessel wall (known as vasculitis) mostly occurs as a secondary process in association with another disease or exposure, or as a primary idiopathic process. Some illnesses make the blood more likely to form clots. Higher-than-normal levels of clot-forming substances, including fibrinogen, factor 8, and prothrombin damage the endothelium, the lining of your blood vessels.