Blood vessel disorder generally refers to the narrowing, hardening or enlargement of arteries and veins. It is often due to the build-up of fatty deposits in the lumen of blood vessels or infection of the vessel wall. This can occur in various locations such as coronary blood vessels, peripheral arteries and veins. The narrowed arteries would block the blood supply to different organs and tissues. In severe conditions, it may develop into more critical health problems like myocardial infarction, stroke or heart failure, which are some of the major reasons of death.
There are many causes contributing to blood vessel disorder including high blood cholesterol and calcium levels, blood clot formation and inflammation of arteries. It is found that age, sedentary lifestyle, diets rich in lipids, smoking, diabetes and family history of cardiovascular diseases are common risk factors. A mild degree of blood vessel disorder may be asymptomatic. Blood tests on cholesterol and calcium level can be performed to monitor the risk of having the disorder. Additionally, techniques such as angiography and ultrasound imaging are useful tools for diagnosis. It can be treated by both medication or surgery, depending on the type of blood vessel disorder.
Types of Blood Vessel Disorder
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a developmental disease in the large arteries, defined by the accumulation of lipids, macrophages and fibrous materials in the intima. When the endothelial cell of blood vessel is damaged, it loses the ability to regulate itself. It results in inflammation as the macrophages irrupt the vessel wall. Macrophages take up lipoprotein to form foam cells and release growth factor cytokines to attract more macrophages and smooth muscle cells. A plaque is formed and proliferate to a larger size, gradually occluding the blood flow. More importantly, it causes different complications that affect the whole body.
Aneurysm
An aneurysm is a localized enlargement of arteries, characterized by a balloon-like bulge. It results from the abnormal weakening of blood vessel wall. Common types of aneurysm include abdominal aortic aneurysm, thoracic aortic aneurysm and intracranial aneurysm. Most types of aneurysm, except intracranial aneurysm, are mainly caused by atherosclerosis.
Raynaud’s Disease
Raynaud’s disease is a rare peripheral vascular syndrome that narrows blood vessels, generally in the hands and feet, due to cold or stressful emotion. It is recognized by the reduction of blood flow to fingers and toes with periodic spasm and results in a drastic color change to white or blue. The disease may further develop into ischaemic pain and necrosis of fingers or toes. The pathology of Raynaud's disease starts with the activation of sympathetic nervous system triggered by cold or the feeling of stress.
Venous thromboembolism
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common peripheral venous disease. It is defined by the occlusion of venous blood vessels by blood clots. There are two major types of VTE: deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. DVT is often found in the calf, accompanies with the swelling of limbs along the deep vein while pulmonary embolism causes chronic pulmonary hypertension. VTE is the third deadliest cardiovascular disease in the world. Haemostasis is the rapid development of blood clots for the purpose of reducing blood loss. On the contrary, venous clots are formed much slower, in terms of several days or even weeks. Abnormality of coagulation during haemostasis, change in blood flow and endothelial failure may trigger VTE.
Erythromelalgia
Erythromelalgia is a rare clinical disorder causing redness, burning sensation and intense pain in limbs. It is more common to be found in lower limbs than upper limbs. Erythromelalgia initiated from dysfunction of peripheral nerves that thickens the blood vessel walls, resulting in hyperaemic flow in limbs.
Stroke
Stroke is a serious condition of blood vessel disorder caused by the stop of blood supply to the brain. Brain cells with ceased oxygen supply from blood will die in millions per second. Not only is it one of the major causes of death around the world, it is also the cause of permanent disability. Two major types of stroke include ischemic stroke which is caused by atherosclerosis in the brain and hemorrhagic stroke which is the bleeding in the brain due to weakened blood vessel wall inside the brain.