VASCULAR HEART DISEASE

Vascular disease is mainly caused by hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) due to a thickening of the artery lining from fatty deposits or plaques (atheroma). The arteries are blood vessels that supply blood, oxygen and nutrients to the body from the heart. Narrow, hardened arteries make it more difficult for blood to flow through and reach the tissue in question. Those parts of the body most affected by this disease suffer the consequences of an inadequate blood supply: poor function, tissue damage and, in worst cases, death. There are different symptoms, depending on where the vascular disease is. It most commonly affects the arteries of the heart, brain and legs.

The heart - cardiovascular disease is a mild degree of atherosclerosis does not cause any symptoms. More severe cases of coronary atherosclerosis may be associated with chest pain on exertion that settles within a few minutes of rest (angina). If any of the arteries supplying the heart (coronary arteries) get completely blocked (coronary thrombosis), the part of the heart muscle that's deprived of blood dies, causing a heart attack (myocardial infarction). If you have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, be aware of heavy or tight chest pain, sometimes also experienced in the throat or left arm. Pain of this nature, not settling within 20 minutes, should be assessed urgently by a doctor or paramedic is made arranged for patient. The brain - cerebrovascular disease is a narrowed arteries in the brain can become blocked by clots (cerebral thrombosis). Clots can form in the main carotid arteries in the neck that supply blood to brain or in smaller cerebral arteries.

Alternatively, smaller diseased arteries may rupture and bleed into the brain (cerebral haemorrhage). Both of these events damage the brain and are collectively referred to as strokes (cerebrovascular accidents or CVAs). Atherosclerosis can cause cramping pain in the leg muscles on exertion that settles after a few minutes' rest (intermittent claudication). In the early stages of the condition, the pain usually occurs in the calves with a particular walking distance or effort, but settles again after 5 to 10 minutes' rest. The pain is a result of the leg muscles not getting enough blood to cater for the physical effort needed. More advanced atherosclerosis may cause constant pain at rest, ulceration of the lower leg and even gangrene in the toes and feet. More advanced atherosclerosis may cause constant pain at rest, ulceration of the lower leg and even gangrene in the toes and feet.

Diagnosis is made on the basis of your medical history and symptoms.
If there is diagnostic doubt or difficulty with treatment, then referral to a specialist for further assessment will help in the management of the condition.
Additional tests may be done in the hospital, such as Doppler ultrasound imaging tests or angiography, when dye is injected to make the arteries visible on X-rays.
If there are symptoms of atherosclerosis in the brain or legs, your GP can refer you to a hospital-based specialist for further investigation is made for patient.
This may include scans of the brain (CT or MRI scans) and angiograms for a better understanding of blood flow in the limbs. Atherosclerosis affects many people. It can start at the age of 20 and increases with advancing age.