Vascular diseases affect blood vessels that carry nutrients and oxygen to the rest of your body. Risk factors for the illnesses include age and genetics. Also, they can be caused by poor lifestyle choices such as smoking, obesity, and not exercising.

Since vascular diseases hinder oxygen distribution, the risk of death is high. That means you should seek medical help as soon as you exhibit any symptoms. Dr. Bhupinder Singh Plano points out that the indicators include pale skin, gangrene, and sores on the legs. To understand vascular diseases better, here they are below.

Collagen Vascular Disease

It is a series of illnesses that cause chronic inflammation in your connective tissues, which hold your bones, muscles, and ligaments together. Its symptoms come and go over several years. If you are affected, you will experience joint pain, finger swelling, dysphagia, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

Since there is no cure for collagen vascular disease, doctors can only treat its symptoms. They may prescribe corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and immunosuppressants to prevent your immune system from attacking healthy tissues.

Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid artery disease causes the narrowing of blood vessels in your neck. It occurs due to the accumulation of plaques (fatty deposits) which causes clogging. Due to the blockage, the probability of getting a stroke is high. The danger of this disease is that it does not exhibit any symptoms in its earlier stages. When you feel dizziness, numbness, and trouble speaking, the damage is almost done.

If your condition is severe, your doctor will perform a carotid endarterectomy or carotid stenting. On the other hand, they will offer blood-thinning medication if your disease is mild.

Pulmonary Embolism

This condition causes a blood clot that hinders blood flow into the artery of a lung. The clot usually begins from a vein in the leg and travels to the lung region. Since the region does not receive sufficient blood, it can be life-threatening. Signs to watch out for include fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, and rapid heartbeats.

Doctors may prescribe clot dissolvers and blood thinners if the clogs are small. If they are huge, they will perform a vein filter or clot removal procedure.

Peripheral Arterial Disease

The disease causes the blockage or narrowing of the vessels that take blood from the heart to the legs. Typically, it causes pain in the legs when you walk. Other problems you could suffer include hair loss, erectile dysfunction, and coldness in the lower leg.

Since the disease has no cure, doctors recommend plenty of exercise. They help to reduce the severity of your symptoms while also boosting your mood.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis causes the buildup of cholesterol and fats on artery walls, which blocks blood flow. Its symptoms begin to show once the walls have been significantly narrowed. You may experience vision loss in one eye, angina, or slurred speech.

You can manage the disease through medications like statins and clopidogrel. Also, they can consider surgical methods such as carotid endarterectomy or coronary angioplasty.

Did you know that vascular diseases are mostly avoidable? That means you have to make certain lifestyle adjustments. Remember, medications and surgery are expensive. One of the things you can do is exercise regularly. You do not need to sign up for a gym membership; cycling and walking are more than sufficient.

Next, you should limit your consumption of tobacco and alcohol. If you are a moderate drinker, this does not apply to you. However, those who constantly get drunk may need to find a way of reducing their intake or stopping completely.