Vascular diseases involve anything that’s abnormal with your arteries, veins, or blood vessels. Therefore, there are multiple forms of vascular disease. Are you at risk for one or more of them? Buckeye Heart and Vascular Institute, a vascular doctor in Dayton, OH, lets you know what symptoms you should be on the lookout for. 
Types of Vascular Disease
There are multiple common types of vascular disease that you may experience. First, carotid artery disease involves the narrowing or blockage of arteries that lead to your brain. When you have an advanced stage of this disease, you’re at risk of having a stroke.
Next, atherosclerosis, which is also known as the hardening of the arteries. This is due to a lot of plaque buildup in the arteries, leading to them becoming narrower or fully blocked. A heart attack or a stroke can come with advanced cases of atherosclerosis.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs when your aorta is damaged. The aorta is the main artery that takes blood from the heart around to other parts of the body. Therefore, it’s one of the most important vessels in your body. If the aorta is damaged, there’s a possibility of an aneurysm developing. If said aneurysm ruptures, there are life-threatening consequences.
Lastly, peripheral artery disease (PAD) is caused when plaque starts building up in the arteries. The more it builds up, the more risk that comes along with it. It starts becoming harder for blood to get through these arteries. This can lead to a stroke, heart attack, or coronary artery disease.
Am I at Risk for Vascular Disease?
Vascular disease has many risk factors. However, anyone can technically be at risk for vascular disease. Your risk is higher if any of the following factors are present in your life:
- Smoking tobacco
- High cholesterol
- Overweight or obesity
- Poor nutrition and an unhealthy diet
- High blood pressure
The easiest way to keep your risk for vascular disease down is to keep up with a healthy lifestyle. Eat a well-balanced diet and avoid things like fast food or other cuisines that are high in fat and cholesterol. Keep a steady workout routine. Even if you aren’t able to dive into a hardcore cardio workout schedule, just taking a daily walk can get the blood flowing and help your arteries work better.
How Can I Tell if I May Have Vascular Disease?
There are multiple symptoms that can signal that you may have vascular disease. If you’ve had a stroke recently, have poor circulation, your extremities swell, or you’re very frequently feeling fatigued and tired. However, you can’t know for sure if you have a vascular disease until you’re checked out by a specialist.
Your Vascular Doctor in Dayton, Ohio
Buckeye Heart and Vascular Institute is here to help you with any of your worries about vascular disease. With multiple forms of diagnostic testing, we can get to the bottom of your vascular and heart troubles. Call us or schedule an appointment online today!