Vascular Disease

What is vascular disease?

Any condition that affects your vascular system is considered vascular disease. The diseases range from problems with your arteries, veins, and vessels that carry lymph to disorders that affect how blood flows. A disease can lead to your tissues not getting enough blood, a condition called ischemia, as well as other serious, even life-threatening, problems. Some vascular diseases include:

• Atherosclerosis and Peripheral Artery Disease.
• Aneurysm.
• Peripheral Venous Disease and Varicose Veins.
• Blood Clots in Veins.
• Blood Clotting Disorders.
• Lymphedema.
• Raynaud’s Phenomenon (Raynaud’s Disease or Raynaud’s Syndrome).
• Buerger’s Disease.

North Memorial Health provides comprehensive care for vascular diseases across a broad range of accredited diagnostic, rehabilitative and comprehensive care programs, led by top-rated cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons.

How can you reduce your risk of developing vascular disease?

You can reduce your risk of a major disability or even death from vascular disease by:

• Do not smoke or use any tobacco products.
• Adopt healthy eating habits.
• Exercise regularly.
• Reduce high blood pressure.
• Keep your cholesterol levels under control.
• If you are diabetic, control your blood sugar level.
• Reduce stress.
• Communicate your family health history to your healthcare provider, particularly if a blood relative had poor circulation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease.
• Get regular physical examinations from your healthcare provider.

How is vascular disease treated?

When should I seek immediate care?

• Your arm or leg feels warm, tender, and painful. It may look swollen and red.
• You have pain in your legs that does not go away with rest.
• You have dark areas on the skin of your legs.
• You cannot see out of one or both of your eyes.

Call 911 for any of the following:

• You have any of the following signs of a heart attack:
  • Squeezing, pressure, or pain in your chest that lasts longer than five minutes or returns.
  • Discomfort or pain in your back, neck, jaw, stomach, or arm.
  • Trouble breathing.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Lightheadedness or a sudden cold sweat, especially with chest pain or trouble breathing.

• You have any of the following signs of a stroke:
  • Numbness or drooping on one side of your face.
  • Weakness in an arm or leg.
  • Confusion or difficulty speaking.
  • Dizziness, a severe headache, or vision loss.

When should you contact your healthcare provider?

• Your signs and symptoms get worse or do not get better, even after treatment.
• You have a sore or ulcer that is not healing or gets worse.
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.