Vascular Doctor - Let's find out for sure!

Does an adult in your family, perhaps your mother, father, or grandmother, grandfather, walk a little distance and sit down for a while, saying, "Oh, my legs are hurting, I feel like I'm going crazy"? Or do you have blue or purple veins on your legs? These things can actually be caused by some problems with the blood vessel system inside our body. So there are doctors who specifically look after diseases related to blood vessels. Those are the specialists we call a Vascular Doctor . Today, let's talk about who a Vascular Doctor is, what diseases he treats, and whether you should see such a doctor too.

Simply put, who is this Vascular Doctor?

A vascular doctor is a doctor who specializes in diseases related to the blood vessels, the system of blood vessels in our body. These doctors are trained to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases of these blood vessels.

Imagine that our body is a big city. Then this blood vessel system is like the network of roads in that city. Some are like big highways, others are like small village roads. It is through these roads that the "goods" called oxygen and nutrition are carried to every cell and tissue of the body, and the "waste" (things like carbon dioxide) that is produced there is brought back. So, if there is a blockage, a rupture, or a break somewhere in these roads, the whole city will be disrupted, and if there is a problem with the blood vessels in our body, it will affect the whole body.

The "engineer" who specifically looks after the "road system" is a Vascular Doctor.

How does our vascular system work?

There are three main parts to this system:

1. Arteries: These are the large blood vessels that carry clean, oxygenated blood from the heart to all parts of the body. Much like the main water supply system in a city.

2. Veins: These are the blood vessels that carry used, oxygen-poor, and waste-laden blood back to the heart from all parts of the body. It's like a drainage system that removes used water.

3. Capillaries: These are very fine, small blood vessels. They connect arteries and veins. They are where oxygen and nutrients are exchanged between the body's cells and where waste products are collected.

A vascular doctor focuses on this entire system.

What kind of illnesses do these doctors treat?

The range of diseases that a Vascular Doctor treats is very wide. Some are common, while others can be more serious. Let's take a look at the table below.

When should you see a vascular doctor?

You may be wondering, "Do I need to see a doctor like this?" Usually, your family doctor (GP) will refer you to a specialist like this. However, if you have any of the following symptoms or risk factors, it's important to pay attention to this.

• Leg pain or back pain when walking: If you experience pain in your legs, especially in the buttocks, when you walk for a short distance and it subsides after standing for a while, it could be a symptom of PAD .
• Leg swelling: If one or both legs are unusually swollen, especially if only one leg is red and swollen with a warm feeling, it could be a sign of a blood clot (DVT) .
• Non-healing wounds: If wounds on the legs, especially on the feet and toes, take a long time to heal, it may be a sign that the blood supply to that area is inadequate.
• Discoloration or coldness of the legs: If the legs feel colder than the rest of the body, or if the skin on the legs turns blue or pale.
• Varicose Veins: If you have blue/purple veins in your legs that look like they are knotted together and are causing pain and a feeling of heaviness in your legs.
• Sudden severe abdominal or chest pain: This could be a sign of a ruptured aneurysm . This is a very serious emergency and you should go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.

People with risk factors:

If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, are a smoker, or have a family history of these types of blood vessel diseases, you are at higher risk than others. That's why it's important to get regular medical checkups.

What is the difference between a Cardiologist and a Vascular Doctor?

This is something that confuses many people.

• A cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in the heart . He treats heart function, heart rhythm problems, heart attacks, and heart valve diseases.
• A vascular doctor is a doctor who focuses on the blood vessel system in the rest of the body , except for the heart. That means everything from the legs, arms, stomach, neck, to the veins that supply blood to the brain.

But these two often work together. Because the heart and the blood vessels are two interconnected systems. For example, a Cardiologist looks at blockages in the arteries that supply blood to the heart (Coronary Arteries), while a Vascular Doctor looks at blockages in the arteries in the legs.

What can you expect when you go to see the doctor?

When you are referred to a vascular doctor, he will first ask you a detailed question about your symptoms.

• What's wrong with you?
• When did it start?
• At what time does it increase? How does it decrease?

Then, they will ask about your and your family's medical history. It is very important to ask about other illnesses you have (diabetes, blood pressure), medications you take, whether you smoke, and whether anyone in your family has these illnesses.

Next, the doctor will examine you physically. Specifically,

• They check the pulses in your legs and arms.
• The color, temperature, and swelling of the legs are checked.
• Blood pressure is measured.

What tests will be done?

To diagnose the exact disease, your doctor may ask you to do some tests.

• Vascular Ultrasound (Doppler Scan): This is the most common test. It is similar to a scan for a pregnant woman. It is painless. It can clearly see how the blood is flowing inside your veins, and whether there is any blockage or blood clot.
• Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI): This is a very simple test. They measure the blood pressure in your arm and ankle and compare the two. This can give you an idea of ​​whether there is reduced blood flow to your legs.
• Angiogram (CT/MR/Catheter): This is a slightly more complicated test. A contrast dye is injected into the blood vessels, and X-ray, CT, or MRI scans are used to produce clear images of the blood vessels. This can help pinpoint the exact location of the blockage.

Based on the results of these tests, your doctor will decide what treatment you need. It could be medication, lifestyle changes, or sometimes a minor or major surgery.