Do you sometimes experience leg pain or cramps when you walk? Or do your legs appear blue and knotted? These can be signs that there are some problems with the circulatory system, that is, the blood vessels in our body. So today, let's talk about these blood vessel-related diseases, or as we medically call them, 'vascular disease'.
Simply put, what are these vascular diseases?
Vascular disease refers to any condition that affects our circulatory system. Imagine that our bodies are like a network of pipes. This network of pipes is our blood vessels. It is through these that blood travels throughout our bodies. This system has three main parts.
- Arteries: These are the large blood vessels that carry clean blood (oxygenated blood) from the heart to all other parts of the body.
- Veins: These are the veins that carry impure blood (oxygen-poor blood) back to the heart from various parts of the body.
- Capillaries: These are the smallest, most delicate blood vessels. They connect arteries and veins, and they deliver oxygen and nutrients to our tissues and collect waste products.
So, any problem that affects these arteries, veins, capillaries, or lymph vessels, or any condition that interferes with blood flow due to blood-related problems like blood clotting, is what we call a vascular disease.
What are the main types of vascular diseases?
These diseases can be divided into several types. Some affect only the arteries, some affect only the veins. There are also diseases that affect only specific areas of the body. Let's look at the main types.
1. Peripheral Artery Disease
Just like the coronary arteries in our heart, the arteries outside the heart also become clogged with things like fat and cholesterol, which we call 'plaque' , and the arteries begin to become blocked from the inside. We call this condition 'atherosclerosis' . Over time, when the arteries become blocked in this way, blood flow decreases. As a result, the tissues of the body may not receive the required amount of blood. We call this 'ischemia' .
Some of the diseases that fall under this category are listed below.
| Medical condition | Simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) | Often, the arteries in the legs are blocked. If the blood flow is completely cut off, the tissue dies and gangrene develops, and the leg may even have to be amputated. |
| Intestinal Ischemic Syndrome | Blockage of the blood vessels supplying blood to the digestive system. |
| Renal Artery Disease | Blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys. This can lead to kidney failure. |
| Raynaud's Phenomenon | When exposed to extreme cold or stress, the small arteries in the fingers and toes constrict, causing the fingers to turn white or blue. |
| Buerger's Disease | A disease strongly linked to tobacco use. Occlusion of small and medium-sized arteries and veins in the hands and feet can lead to loss of blood supply to the fingers, tissue death (gangrene) and amputation of the fingers. |
2. Carotid Artery Issues
These are problems that occur in the main carotid arteries, located on either side of our neck, which supply blood to the brain.
- Carotid Artery Disease: Narrowing or blockage of this artery that supplies blood to the brain can cause a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke .
- Carotid Artery Dissection: A tear in a layer of the artery wall, causing blood to leak through.
- Carotid Artery Aneurysm: A weakening of the artery wall that causes it to bulge like a balloon. There is a risk of this bursting.
3. Venous Disease
Our veins have valves inside them. They're like a pipe that only allows water to flow in one direction. When we contract our muscles, these valves open and blood moves upward (towards the heart). When the muscles relax, the valves close and blood stops flowing back down.
But if these valves are damaged, they don't close properly. Then the blood starts flowing in both directions. This causes blood to pool in the lower extremities, especially in the legs, and the veins start to look swollen and knotted. These conditions are:
- Varicose Veins: Swollen, purple, twisted veins that appear under the skin.
- Spider Veins: Red or purple, spider-like, fine capillaries that appear in the knees and ankles.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): A blood clot that forms in a deep vein inside the body.
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI): Difficulty returning blood to the heart due to the walls or valves of the veins in the legs not working properly.
4. Blood Clots
A blood clot (thrombus) is a jelly-like formation in a blood vessel. This clot can break off and travel with the blood, blocking a blood vessel in the lungs ( Pulmonary Embolism ), heart ( Heart Attack ), or brain ( Stroke ). These are very dangerous conditions.
If someone has a DVT (blood clot in a deep vein in the leg), the clot can break loose and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. This can be life-threatening.
5. Aortic Aneurysm
An aneurysm is a weakening of the wall of a blood vessel, causing it to bulge like a balloon. Although it can occur in any blood vessel, it is most commonly seen in the aorta, the main artery leading from the heart.
- Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm: A bulge in the aorta in the chest area.
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A bulge in the aorta in the abdomen.
6. Lymphedema
Our lymphatic system is a network of delicate vessels that help our immune system. If these vessels become damaged or blocked, lymph fluid builds up and causes swelling in our limbs. This is called Lymphedema .
What are the causes and risk factors for these diseases?
Some vascular diseases can be inherited (genetically), but most of the time, these diseases are caused by bad lifestyle habits and other medical conditions.
- High Cholesterol
- High Blood Pressure
- Smoking and tobacco use
- Diabetes
- Obesity and weight gain
- Not exercising
- Family history of these diseases
- Aging
Do you also have these symptoms?
Symptoms vary depending on the condition. Let's look at the symptoms of several major conditions.
| Disease category | Common symptoms |
|---|---|
| Peripheral artery disease (PAD) | Pain or cramps in the legs, especially the calves, when walking and then disappearing after a while, changes in the color of the skin on the legs, wounds that do not heal, and tiredness in the legs. |
| Carotid artery disease | There are often no symptoms in the early stages. It can go unnoticed until a stroke or TIA occurs, which can cause vision or speech problems, confusion, and memory problems. |
| Varicose Veins (CVI) | Leg swelling, pain, feeling of heaviness in the legs, visible blue/purple veins, itchy skin. |
| Blood clots (DVT, PE) | DVT: Swelling, pain, redness, and warmth in one leg. Pulmonary Embolism: Sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood. (This is an emergency!) |
| Aneurysm of the great artery | There are often no symptoms. If an aneurysm ruptures, you may experience sudden, severe chest or abdominal pain, dizziness, and a fast heartbeat. (This is also an emergency!) |
How does a doctor diagnose these diseases?
When you visit your doctor, he or she will examine you thoroughly, ask about your symptoms, your family medical history, and may also order a number of tests to confirm the diagnosis.
- Vascular Ultrasound: This is a scan that uses sound waves to look at the flow of blood inside the blood vessels and to see if there is any blockage.
- CT Angiography: A CT scan is performed to obtain detailed three-dimensional images of blood vessels by injecting a special substance into the body.
- MR Angiography: Taking images of blood vessels with an MRI machine using a magnetic field.
- Catheter Angiography: A thin tube (catheter) is passed through a blood vessel and a special fluid is injected into it to detect blockages in the veins under X-ray.
What are the treatments?
Treatment methods vary depending on the condition and its severity. The general advice given to all patients is to make lifestyle changes . That means eating a healthy diet, exercising, and avoiding smoking. In addition, there are treatments such as:
- Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications such as blood thinners, cholesterol-lowering medications (statins), high blood pressure medications, and vasodilators.
- Angioplasty and Stenting: A procedure in which a balloon-like device is inserted into a blocked blood vessel, inflated to widen the vessel (angioplasty), and a mesh-like device (stent) is inserted to prevent re-closure.
- Surgery: In some cases, it is necessary to remove the blocked vein and replace it with another vein (bypass surgery) or surgically remove the blood clot (thrombectomy). In conditions such as varicose veins, laser treatment or surgery is also used to remove the vein.
The most important thing is that your doctor will decide the best treatment for you. So don't go and get medicine just because you saw it on the internet or heard about it from someone.
What are the times when you suddenly need to go to ETU?
If you or someone you know experiences any of the following symptoms, go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. These could be signs of a life-threatening condition such as a stroke, heart attack, or a ruptured aortic aneurysm.
- Sudden, severe chest pain
- Sudden severe stomach pain
- Difficulty speaking, slurring of words
- Sagging of one side of the face
- Numbness or weakness of one arm or leg
- Sudden severe confusion or dizziness
- Loss or blurring of vision
Take-Home Message
- Vascular disease is a common condition that affects the circulatory system in our body.
- High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking are the main risk factors.
- Don't ignore symptoms like leg pain, leg cramps, or difficulty breathing. See your doctor right away.
- Many of these diseases can be prevented and controlled by a healthy lifestyle (good diet, exercise, and avoiding smoking).
- It is very important to use the medication prescribed by the doctor exactly and for the prescribed period.
- If you experience emergency symptoms (severe chest pain, facial flushing, difficulty speaking), go to the hospital immediately.
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