Vascular disease is a term given to any condition that affects your vascular or circulatory system. Types of vascular disease include aneurysm, peripheral artery and vascular disease, venous disease, and renal failure. Vascular disease can be caused by a number of factors, including atherosclerosis, trauma, vasculitis (inflammation), and genetics. Common vascular disease symptoms are numbness in the legs, varicose veins, aching in the feet or toes, pain in the buttocks, and wounds that won’t heal. Left untreated, vascular diseases increase your risk for heart attack and stroke. At the Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Cardiovascular Institute, our experienced surgeons have performed thousands of procedures to treat the various types of vascular disease. They use some of the most cutting-edge treatments and technologies to ensure that you have the best possible results.
Vascular diseases include any conditions that affect your circulatory system of arteries, veins, and lymph vessels, such as:
Your aorta, the largest artery in your body, carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Aneurysms occur when blood pools in a weakened part of the aortic wall, causing a bulge.
Carotid arteries provide oxygen-rich blood to your brain. Plaque deposits made up of cholesterol, fat, and other substances can build up in your arteries causing atherosclerosis.
Peripheral arteries carry blood to your legs, arms, stomach, and head. People with PAD have a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and other complications.
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins. While any vein can become varicose, most people get them on their legs. In most cases, varicose veins are mainly a cosmetic concern; however, they can be a source of pain and discomfort in some people.
Renal failure, also known as kidney failure, occurs when the kidneys can no longer function on their own to filter waste out of your blood. This condition can occur over time or suddenly within a few hours. If left untreated, renal failure can lead to death.
Pulmonary vascular disease is used to describe any condition that affects the blood vessels traveling from the heart to the lungs and generally causes shortness of breath. In contrast, peripheral vascular disease is a blood circulation disorder that causes the blood vessel
