Vascular disease includes a range of conditions affecting your blood vessels. Peripheral artery disease (PAD), carotid artery disease, aneurysms, and blood clots all fall into this category. Many of these conditions progress silently, but screening can help detect problems early and reduce your risk of complications.
In this blog, our providers at Vascular Specialists explain why vascular disease screening is important and how we can help you get the assessment and care you need.
Vascular disease develops gradually and sometimes without noticeable symptoms. Screening helps identify at-risk areas in your arteries and veins before they become problematic.
Early detection means getting the treatment you need when issues are smaller — before they spiral into bigger issues.
Some vascular issues, especially aneurysms, can be fatal if they rupture, but screening allows our team to detect — and treat — the issue as soon as possible. If aneurysms are detected early, surgery and lifestyle modifications can help prevent a rupture. In this case, screening and treatment can potentially save your life!
Aneurysms aren’t the only serious condition detected through screening. If your screening shows that you have blockages in your carotid artery, carotid stenting can help prevent a stroke.
While anyone can develop vascular disease, certain factors increase your risk, and if you have any of these risk factors, you might benefit from screenings.
Men over 55 and women over 65 are generally at a higher risk for vascular conditions. Researchers find that the increased risk of vascular disease is connected to decreased levels of estrogen and testosterone.
After menopause, women’s risk of vascular disease — including arterial disease, PAD, and deep vein thrombosis — rises due to hormonal changes.
If you have close relatives who have experienced vascular disease, particularly before age 50, you might benefit from screening, too.
Smoking isn’t just hard on your lungs. It’s hard on your whole body. Specifically, smoking damages your blood vessel walls and accelerates plaque buildup. If you smoke, consider quitting for the sake of your vascular health. It takes as much as three months for your risk of heart attack to drop after you quit.
Some health conditions can increase your risk of vascular disease. This includes:
Managing these conditions can help protect your vascular health.
If you already experience leg pain while walking, numbness, or swelling in your extremities, you may benefit from a vascular screening to rule out underlying issues like PAD or blood clots.
You don’t have to worry about figuring this part out on your own! Our providers at Vascular Specialists can recommend the right timing for you based on your age, your overall health, your risk factors, and whether you already have symptoms.
In general, you might need screening:
Many people benefit from vascular screening starting around age 55 — even without symptoms. This is important because screenings help spot the earliest signs of trouble before major symptoms even start to appear.
Those with high-risk factors — such as smokers and diabetics — may need annual screenings to keep track of any potential issues and manage their condition before symptoms appear.
If you’ve experienced a heart attack, stroke, or another vascular-related event, regular screenings can help monitor your treatment and help prevent future issues from arising.
The type of screening you need depends on which disease you’re being screened for. Examples include:
Your Vascular Specialists provider will provide you with your specific preparation instructions depending on which screening you need. If any issues arise, they walk you through your next steps.
Take care of your vascular health and get the screenings you need. To get started, give us a call at 815-824-4406 or simply schedule an appointment online.
