Vascular Diseases and Its Types

Introduction:

Vascular diseases are systemic conditions that affect the blood vessels or the entire circulatory system. Vascular diseases can affect the arteries, lymphatic vessels, and veins in many different ways, leading to the development of conditions of varying characteristics and types. Almost twenty-seven different types of vascular diseases are seen, including conditions like diseases of the heart valves, deep vein thrombosis, and aneurysms. Vascular disease is more common in adults than in children, with around eighteen million people getting affected each year, with a total of 1.2 million exclusively involving the diseases of the heart.

What Causes Vascular Diseases?

Many factors can predispose or trigger vascular disease, and the most common factors known to cause vascular diseases are:

• Genetics disorders.

• High blood pressure.

• Hypercholesterolemia (increased blood cholesterol levels).

• Infection.

• Injuries.

• Hormone medications.

What Are the Types of Vascular Disease?

Vascular diseases are conditions that are often seen as predisposed by other underlying medical conditions like heart disease or diabetes. There are around twenty-seven vascular diseases seen involving the blood vessels, and they are:

1. Carotid Artery Disease: When there is an alteration in the flow and composition of the blood, there is a potential narrowing of the blood vessels of the heart, mainly the carotid artery, that eventually leads to the development of conditions that affect the heart or brain and is known as carotid artery disease. The factors that cause carotid artery diseases are hypertension, diabetes, obesity, stress, sedentary lifestyle, etc.

2. Malformation of the Vasculature: Vascular abnormalities develop before birth in the intrauterine stage of life, during the development of arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels. Although the exact cause is unknown, certain deformities may be triggered by genetic anomalies, which is a commonly occurring reason.

3. Aneurysm of the Abdominal Aorta: An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) can be considered a potentially bothersome condition that needs very close observation or management, depending on the size of the aneurysm and the symptoms associated with it. Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta is commonly identified by random events or when there is a rupture of the aortic wall. Where the aneurysm is a very constant dilation of the localized blood vessel, with a minimum of 150 percent bigger in comparison to the size of the diameter of that artery. The potential causative factors that lead to the formation of AAA are atherosclerosis (the most common risk factor), old age, male, smoking, White race, previous genetic or familial history of AAA, hypertension, increased blood cholesterol levels, and a previous history of aortic dissection.

4. Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis is a disorder caused by the hardening of the arterial vessel walls. That occurs due to an increase in blood cholesterol and calcium levels that eventually lead to the sedimentation of plaque around the arterial walls. The deposition of fat and calcium, predominantly the composition of plaque, around the blood vessels leads to constriction of the artery over the period, gradually limiting blood flow. When atherosclerosis affects the coronary arteries (arteries that provide blood to the heart), there is a decrease in the blood flow from the vessels to reaching the heart.

Atherosclerosis, many times, is one of the most common reasons that lead to heart attack. Atherosclerosis can also induce a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke where there is a dislodgement of these plaque materials that has a tendency to obstruct the blood vessels, thereby disrupting the arteries that supply blood to the brain. Atherosclerosis has also been shown to damage arteries in other areas of the body, such as the pelvis and legs, compromising the circulatory function, a delay in healing of the skin and its injuries, and erectile dysfunctions.

1. Fibromuscular Dysplasia: Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a condition in which the cells in the arterial wall develop abnormally, leading to a formation of constriction or bulge in the vessel wall.

2. Deep Vein Thrombosis: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs due to the formation of a blood clot dislodging into one of the deep veins of the body, mainly in the leg. This occurs if a vein is injured or there is a stasis of the blood flow within a vein. While there are a number of risk factors associated with developing a DVT, two of the most prevalent reasons are accidents of the lower body and surgery involving the hips or legs.

3. Thromboangitis Obliterans: This condition is also called Buerger's disease. Buerger's disease is a nonatherosclerotic, advancing, regional inflammatory disease that mainly affects the small and medium-sized arteries of the upper and lower extremities. It is most frequent in men who have a history of smoking.

4. Lymphedema: Lymphedema is a medical condition characterized by swelling occurring due to the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in a body, commonly the legs and arms. The lymphatic system, in general, is a system that is in charge of eliminating harmful substances from the body and maintaining adequate fluid balances. Still, in lymphedema, the levels of the lymphatic fluid are altered, mainly in the affected area where the lymphatic vessels are damaged or impaired, resulting in fluid retention, pain, and a greater chance of infection.

5. Portal Hypertension: This condition is characterized by an increase in the pressure of the hepatic portal vein and is known as portal hypertension. The most common causes of portal hypertension are anomalies of the hepatic vessels or cirrhosis of the liver or people living in areas with a history of endemic disease. Clinical diagnosis is done by confirming endoscopic and radiological examination. The management of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding includes endoscopy (a diagnostic procedure done by inserting an intra-oral camera), medication, or surgical management like liver transplantation or shunting of the hepatic portal vein cava.

6. Pulmonary Embolism: Pulmonary embolism is a clinical condition occurring due to a blockage in the arteries of the lungs, which deliver blood. A pulmonary embolism occurs when an embolism (a clot-like factor that can be air or any fluid, clot, or fat) originates in one area of the body, migrates across the bloodstream, and gradually obstructs the arterial blood flow in the lungs. The obstruction, which is mostly due to a blood clot, leads to a stoppage in the supply of oxygen from getting into the tissues of the lungs, which, on a long-term basis, can jeopardize the longevity of life and sometimes lead to sudden death.

7. Post Thrombotic Syndrome: People who have experienced deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in their legs may develop post-thrombotic syndrome. The part of the patient's leg could lead to the development of swelling, with constant discomfort and other symptoms as a result of the previous illness. This condition is seen to appear within a few days, weeks, or months soon after the development of deep vein thrombosis. Post-stroke injuries and recent surgeries can predispose post-thrombotic syndrome by increasing the inflammatory factors in the body and decreasing the movement of the blood, where both can lead to the formation of blood clots. The factors that lead to the development of this condition are long travels limiting the range of body motion, damage to the deep vein, genetic blood discrepancies that increase the clotting of blood, pregnancy, and treatment for management of cancer.

8. Raynaud’s Disease: Raynaud's phenomenon is a clinical condition in which the flow of blood to the fingers is reduced. A visible reduction in the blood flow is also seen affecting the ears, nose, toes, knees, and nipples, and is considered a very rare condition. Raynaud's phenomenon occurs due to the spasming of the blood vessels in targeted locations. The factors that trigger spasms are cold, anxiety, or stressful circumstances.

9. Renovascular hypertension.

10. Stroke.

11. Thrombophilia.

12. Vasculitis.

13. Vascular dementia.

14. Vein of Galen malformation.

15. Chronic venous insufficiency.

16. Thromboangiitis obliterans

17. Aortic dissection.

18. Congenital vascular malformation.

19. Chronic limb (threatening ischemia).

20. Diabetes and vascular disease.

21. Factor v Leiden.

22. Diseases of the mesenteric artery.

23. Peripheral artery disease.

Conclusion:

A variety of disorders are seen affecting the arteries, veins, and capillaries in the human body and are classified as vascular illnesses. Impaired blood flow is a common feature that leads to the emergence of several clinical conditions, with a greater impact on a person's health. Among such diseases, atherosclerosis is one of the very common vascular conditions that lead to the deposition of fat in the arteries, eventually leading to the formation of blockages, thus increasing the chances of heart attacks or stroke. Over some time, an increase in blood pressure can damage the blood vessels, leading to several medical illnesses. Narrowing of the arteries in the limbs leads to peripheral arterial disease, lowering the flow of blood and causing discomfort. Blood clots in veins are a symptom of conditions affecting the vein that involve deep vein thrombosis, with an increased risk of embolism. The management of conditions affecting the blood vessels or vascular illnesses can be done by prophylactic management and treatment with appropriate medications and lifestyle modifications, including food and exercise, thus reducing the overall negative effects on health.