The vascular system is the body's network of blood vessels. It includes the arteries, veins and capillaries that carry blood to and from the heart. Problems of the vascular system are common and can be serious. Arteries can become thick and stiff, a problem called arteriosclerosis. Blood clots can clog vessels and block blood flow to the heart or brain. Weakened blood vessels can burst, causing bleeding inside the body.
You are more likely to have vascular disease as you get older. Other factors that make vascular disease more likely include
- Family history of vascular or heart diseases
- Pregnancy
- Illness or injury
- Long periods of sitting or standing still
- Any condition that affects the heart and blood vessels, such as diabetes or high cholesterol
- Smoking
- Obesity
Losing weight, eating healthy foods, being active and not smoking can help vascular disease. Other treatments include medicines and surgery.
- Cardiovascular Disease 101: Understanding Heart and Blood Vessel Conditions(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cardiovascular-disease/HB00032/METHOD=print
- Other Health Problems Can Delay MS Diagnosis(10/29/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_71014.html
- Gastric Bypass Cuts Heart Risks(10/20/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_70611.html
- Eating Dark Chocolate May Keep Heart Healthy(10/08/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_70178.html
- More News on Vascular Diseases http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_v.html#vasculardiseases
- Angiogram(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Angiogram.html
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Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=angioct
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=angioct
- Duplex Ultrasound(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Duplex_Ultrasound.html
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MR Angiography (MRA)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=angiomr
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=angiomr&bhcp=1
- Testing in the Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory(American Heart Association) - http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/115/24/e624
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Ultrasound - Vascular(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=vascularus&bhcp=1
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=vascularus
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What You Need to Know about Angiography(American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - Links to PDF - http://www.asrt.org/media/pdf/angiography_eng.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.asrt.org/media/pdf/angiography_span.pdf
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Aortobifemoral Bypass
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/aortobifemoralbypass/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/aortobifemoralbypassspanish/htm/index.htm -
Catheter Embolization(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=cathembol
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=cathembol
- Endarterectomy(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Endarterectomy.html
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MedlinePlus: Angioplasty
(National Library of Medicine) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/angioplasty.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/angioplasty.html - Stent(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/treatments/medicaldevices/stent.html
- Surgical Bypass(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Surgical_Bypass.html
- Thrombolytic Therapy(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Thrombolytic_Therapy.html
- Heart-Healthy Diet: 7 Steps to Prevent Heart Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/heart-healthy-diet/NU00196/METHOD=print
- Arteriosclerosis/Atherosclerosis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/arteriosclerosis-atherosclerosis/DS00525/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Arteriovenous Malformations and Other Vascular Lesions of the Central Nervous System(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/avms/detail_avms.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/malformaciones_arteriovenosas.htm
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Atherosclerosis(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Atherosclerosis/Atherosclerosis_WhatIs.html
- Bruit: Is It a Sign of Something Serious?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bruit/AN00662/METHOD=print
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Cavernous Malformation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cavernous_malformation/cavernous_malformation.htm
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Cerebral Arteriosclerosis(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_arteriosclerosis/cerebral_arteriosclerosis.htm
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Chronic_Venous_Insufficiency.html
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Fibromuscular Dysplasia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/fibromuscular_dysplasia/fibromuscular_dysplasia.htm
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Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS)(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/klippel_trenaunay/klippel_trenaunay.htm
- Mesenteric Ischemia(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Mesenteric_Ischemia.html
- Renovascular Conditions(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Renovascular_Conditions.html
- Renovascular Hypertension: What Is It?(Vascular Disease Foundation) - http://www.vdf.org/diseaseinfo/ras/
- Diabetic Vascular Disease(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Diabetic_Vascular_Disease.html
- Vascular Birthmarks(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_vascular.html
- Vascular Disease and Erectile Dysfunction(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/erectile_disorder_impotence/hic_vascular_disease_and_erectile_dysfunction.aspx
- Vascular Pain(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/pain_management/hic_vascular_pain.aspx
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See My Heart Cardiovascular Media Library
(American Society of Echocardiography) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.medmovie.com/mmdatabase/MediaPlayer.aspx?ClientID=46&TopicID=701,'_blank','toolbar=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,width=640,height=480','true'
- Stasis Ulcer(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/stasisUlcerVenousUlcer.htm
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Aortobifemoral Bypass(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/aortobifemoralbypass/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/aortobifemoralbypassspanish/htm/index.htm
- Atlas of the Body: The Circulatory System -- Arterial(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ2O6756JC&sub_cat=510
- Atlas of the Body: The Circulatory System -- Venous(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZG57C56JC&sub_cat=510
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Arteriosclerosis(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Arteriosclerosis%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Cardiovascular Diseases(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Cardiovascular+Diseases%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Hemangioma(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hemangioma%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Nevus(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Nevus%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Vascular Diseases(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Vascular+Diseases%22
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Genetics Home Reference: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=pseudoxanthomaelasticum
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: CCR2-mediated antiinflammatory effects of endothelial tetrahydrobiopterin inhibit vascular injury-induced accelerated... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18824773&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Antiplatelet drugs in cardiological practice: established strategies and new developments. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18827913&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: The secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA: a missing link between... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18827909&tool=MedlinePlus
- Vascular Diseases -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(arteriosclerosis[majr:noexp]+OR+arteriolosclerosis[majr]+OR+atherosclerosis[majr]+OR+arteriosclerosis+obliterans[majr]+OR+monckeberg+medial+calcific+sclerosis[majr])AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Embolism and thrombosis (not deep vein thrombosis) -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=embolism+and+thrombosis[majr]+NOT+(venous+thrombosis[mh]+OR+coronary+thrombosis[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+AND+(jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Vascular cancer -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=vascular+neoplasms[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- venous insufficiency - http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v:project=medlineplus&binning-state=group%3d%3dMedical%20Encyclopedia&query=venous+insufficiency
- AVF Member Directory(American Venous Forum) - http://veinforum.org/index.php?page=find-a-doctor
- Find a Vascular Specialist(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/Member_Search/Physician_Search.html
- Find an Accredited Echocardiography Laboratory or Vascular Laboratory(American Society of Echocardiography) - http://www.asecho.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3333
- American Heart Association - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- Society of Interventional Radiology - http://www.sirweb.org/
- Capillary Malformation(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site648/mainpageS648P0.html
- Children's Vascular Health Activity Book(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/childrensactivitybook/index.html
- Port Wine Stain(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/infant/port-WineStain.htm
- Salmon Patch(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/infant/salmonPatch.htm
- Strawberry Hemangioma(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/infant/infantileHemangioma.htm
- Coronary Artery Disease - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/coronaryarterydisease.html
- Deep Vein Thrombosis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/deepveinthrombosis.html
- Heart Attack - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/heartattack.html
- Pulmonary Embolism - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pulmonaryembolism.html
- Raynaud's Disease - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/raynaudsdisease.html
- Stroke - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stroke.html
- Varicose Veins - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/varicoseveins.html
- Vasculitis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vasculitis.html
- Blood, Heart and Circulation - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bloodheartandcirculation.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Vascular Diseases is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
Vascular Diseases - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/vasculardiseases.html