What is Vascular Disease? (Flyer)

About

Vascular disease is any abnormal condition of the blood vessels (arteries and veins.) Vascular diseases outside the heart can “present” themselves anywhere. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) alone affects 8-12 million people in the US, affects women and men equally, and can occur in anyone at any time.

Introduction

Vascular disease is any abnormal condition of the blood vessels (arteries and veins.) Vascular diseases outside the heart can “present” themselves anywhere. Due to an aging population, an increase in obesity, and chronic conditions like Type II diabetes, vascular diseases are a growing epidemic. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) alone affects 8-12 million people in the US, affects women and men equally, and can occur in anyone at any time.

Vascular Disease Can Affect Anyone

The cost in terms of pain, disability, and medical treatment are enormous. For example, healthcare costs related to PAD are more than $21 billion annually in the US alone. Stroke costs $33 billion, spent on hospitalizations and related healthcare. The costs continue to grow because vascular diseases are often diagnosed later and become a chronic issue that involves frequent

 complications.

Because the vascular system is so complex and far-reaching, diseases can appear anywhere in the body in many different forms. Vascular diseases often occur along with other diseases like diabetes or heart disease.

The Vascular Health Equity Academy offers resources on 45+ vascular health topics and types of vascular diseases, including the most common: PAD, Atherosclerosis, and Carotid Artery Disease.

Are you at risk?

Vascular disease can affect anyone. “Risk factors” are the things that put you at a higher risk for developing vascular disease – these are things like diet, genetics, and age. Knowing your risk factors can help you prevent or better manage vascular disease. Some risk factors (like family history) are not something you can change. Others are factors you can take action on to lower your risk and improve your vascular health.

While not all vascular diseases have the same risk factors, here are some of the more common ones:

• Diabetes

• Hyperlipidemia (high levels of fats like cholesterols in the blood)

• Smoking

• High blood pressure

• Obesity

• Lack of exercise

Talk to a provider about your risk of vascular conditions such as Peripheral Artery Disease or Stroke. The earlier you begin to change your behaviors, the better your chance of avoiding or successfully managing vascular disease.

Understanding the Vascular System

Vascular diseases affect the circulatory system. Arteries and veins (blood vessels) are our bodies’ natural highways that circulate blood through arms, legs, and internal organs.

Your vascular system – the highways of the body – is composed of three types of blood vessels.

1. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart, nourishing every part of the body. The one exception is the pulmonary artery, which carries oxygen-poor blood from your heart to your lungs, where it exchanges carbon dioxide for oxygen.

2. Veins carry the blood back to the heart where it is replenished with oxygen. The newly oxygen-rich blood gets pumped back into the heart via the pulmonary vein.

3. Capillaries connect the arteries to the veins. Vascular disease commonly occurs at sites of unstable blood flow. For example, when the blood flow in the arteries changes direction suddenly.

How to Find Resources

The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is here to help those living with vascular conditions.

Our Vascular Health Equity Academy Resource Library houses information on vascular conditions, disease prevention and management, and research engagement. We have developed this free library to help patients navigate the questions and challenges associated with vascular disease.