PAD Disease Just One of a Handful of Serious Vascular Diseases

Vascular diseases cause blockages in blood vessels and/or cause plaque buildup on the sides of the blood vessels. These blockages and plaque buildup restrict blood flow to the heart and brain causing heart attack, stroke, and even death. Let's take a look at the different types of vascular diseases.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Peripheral arterial disease, also known as PAD, is being recognized by more and more cardiac professionals. It afflicts as many as 10 to 12 million Americans and is a condition of the peripheral arteries, the blood vessels outside of the heart. Plaque from fat and cholesterol accumulate on the vessel walls, in turn narrowing the passage through the artery and significantly slowing down blood flow. Symptoms are often reported as leg pain, toe pain, tiredness in the legs, color or temperature changes in the lower legs, ulcers, numbness, and sores.
To screen for PAD, a simple test called ABI (ankle-brachial index) is performed. The test measures blood pressure in the arm and ankle while resting and then again after exercise. The ABI can determine if blood pressure is lower in the legs which can indicate PAD as well as risk for other vascular diseases.
Venous Disease  Comprised of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), venous disease occurs when the valves inside the veins become damaged and do not open and close properly. The result is pooling blood or swelling in the veins which can slow down blood flow and cause blood clots.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) DVT is a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg. Symptoms are often swelling in one leg, pain or tenderness in one leg, increased warmth in one leg, or changes in skin color in one leg. DVT is considered an acute medical condition as opposed to a chronic one. Acute medical conditions appear and change or worsen rapidly. With DVT a blood clot can travel to the heart, brain, or lungs causing a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism. DVT is caused by extended sedentary positions including long plane flights or extended hospital stays. The best prevention against DVT is to minimize risk factors for developing the blood clot in the first place.
Minimize Risk Factors for Vascular Disease You can reduce your risk of vascular disease on your own through healthy changes in your lifestyle. These changes include stopping tobacco use, controlling your blood sugar and cholesterol levels, reducing saturated fat consumption, along with weight-bearing and cardiovascular exercise.