The cardiovascular system consists of the heart (cardio) and blood vessels (vascular). The cardiovascular system carries out one of the most critical functions in your body. Therefore, complications in the blood vessels can cause severe damage to your well-being if not diagnosed and treated in time. Due to the complexity in the cardiovascular system’s structure and function, specialists at Soffer Health Institute offer highly-skilled treatment of Aventura vascular problems.
Components of the vascular system
Your body’s network of blood vessels includes:
- Arteries, which transport oxygenated blood from your heart to the tissues of your body.
- Veins transport blood and waste products from the tissues in your body to and from the heart.
- Capillaries, which are the smallest blood vessels that connect the arteries and the veins. Capillary walls are thin to allow an easy and fast exchange of materials between your blood and tissues.
Types of vascular diseases
Some of the most common types of vascular diseases include:
- Aneurysm
An aneurism is a bulge in your artery. Aneurysms are a threat to your well-being because as they grow, they risk rupturing. Ruptured aneurysms can cause internal body bleeding. If not treated in time, internal bleeding can cause death.
- Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition that is caused by fat and cholesterol buildup in arterial walls. This buildup causes restricted blood flow. This vascular condition can trigger a heart attack or stroke.
- Blood clots
A blood clot is a mass of platelets and fibrin. Blood clots are usually formed to stop bleeding. In case of damage to your blood vessels, blood clots are formed for repair purposes. However, when blood clots inappropriately form inside blood vessels, they may cause significant vascular problems by impairing blood flow. Vascular blood clots can include deep vein thrombosis that develops in the legs and pulmonary embolus that develops in the lungs.
- Raynaud’s disease
Raynaud’s disease is a condition that occurs when the blood vessels in your fingers and toes constrict in response to decreased temperatures or stress. There is limited blood flow when blood vessels constrict. This condition leads to numbness in the fingers and toes. For light-skinned patients, the area might turn blue.
- Stroke
A stroke occurs when there is an interrupted blood supply to the brain. Most strokes occur due to blockage in the arteries (ischemic stroke). When weakened blood vessels burst in the brain, a hemorrhagic stroke occurs. Strokes can cause permanent brain damage and death.
- Varicose veins
Varicose veins usually affect venous drainage. This condition presents as enlarged and twisted veins. The veins sometimes appear on the skin as blue or dark purple. Varicose veins occur when the valves in the veins are faulty. This problem leads to backward blood flow. Varicose veins can cause swollen ankles and can be painful and uncomfortable.
- Vasculitis
Vasculitis is inflammation of blood vessels. Inflammation causes the walls of blood vessels to thicken, reducing the blood passageway circumference. Restricted blood flows can cause tissue and organ damage.
Prevention of vascular disease
To reduce your risk of developing a vascular disease:
- Make healthy lifestyle choices like managing your weight through exercise, following a healthy diet plan, and staying active.
- Avoid smoking
- Manage your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
Visit Soffer Health Institute to learn more about vascular diseases and to understand the treatment options available.
