· Carotid artery disease occurs when the carotid arteries in the neck become narrow and stiff with plaque. Strokes result either from obstruction of the blood flow to the brain by or when bits of plaque and clots break off from the plaque and flow to the brain.
· Peripheral arterial disease occurs when the peripheral arteries in the leg become too narrow or obstructed and limit the blood flow to the legs. If left untreated, peripheral arterial disease can cause pain or aching in the legs, difficulty with walking, resting pain in the foot at night in bed, non-healing sores or infections in the toes or feet, and can lead to limb loss in its most sever form. In addition, it can be associated with other serious arterial conditions leading to heart attacks and stroke. African Americans and Hispanic populations have a higher occurrence of PAD.
· Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) occur when the wall of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, progressively weakens and begins to bulge. An AAA may continue to enlarge and eventually rupture if left untreated, causing severe internal bleeding and possibly death.
Vascular disease can be effectively treated if detected early with a painless, noninvasive
screening. If evidence of vascular disease is found, see a vascular surgeon who has the expertise to give the best diagnosis and treat with noninvasive and other procedures. To learn more about your vascular health and vascular diseases visit www.VascularWeb.org, or call 877-282-2010 for free brochures.
Republished with permission by the Society for Vascular Surgery. Vascular surgeons provide expert care for circulatory disease. They are the only physicians who are skilled in all vascular treatments including medical management, noninvasive procedures, as well as surgery for advanced cases. Learn more about vascular conditions and treatments and find a vascular surgeon at VascularWeb.
