Vascular diseases are often linked to the lifestyle of the patients, they rarely are congenital. Here is a list of a few vascular diseases. It is often difficult for a patient to categorize a symptom, and therefore they should always consult a vascular specialist.
Arteriosclerosis
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
Stroke
Acute blocked artery in the leg
Functional circulatory disorders
Other vascular diseases
Sclerosis is Greek for hardening or stiffening of tissue, in this case it’s the stiffening of arteries through pathological accumulation of cholesterol and other fats in the inner vascular wall. These deposits build walls (plaques), that lead to a narrowing and constriction (stenosis) of the arteries and thus allow less blood flow.
Symptoms:
Movement associated leg pain, paralysis and chest pain (angina pectoris).
A very dangerous form of arteriosclerosis is the acute blockage of an artery!
This is often an EMERGENCY! If the symptoms from above apply to you, please contact us!
Through arteriosclerosis and constriction of vessels provoked lack of blood flow and thus lack of oxygen in the musculature during exercise, can cause pain.
Symptoms:
exercise related pain in the calf.
This is an acute lack of circulation in the brain usually caused by a blood clot breaking away from the heart or from arteriosclerosis plaques, meaning from a pathological constriction of an artery supplying the brain. Rarely a stroke can also be caused by a brain hemorrhage.
Symptoms:
paralysis, visual disturbance, headache, speech impairment.
This is an EMERGENCY; it’s treated by blood thinning catheter intervention or an operation must be performed!
This is caused by a sudden occlusion of an artery most commonly near a preexisting constriction or sometimes by a blood clot from the heart.
Symptoms:
Sudden pain in the leg, paleness of the leg, feeling of coldness in the leg.
Without any delay this medical condition must be treated immediately, it’s an EMERGENCY!
This is not a medical disorder with a structural defect, but the result of a defective control of vascular wall musculature by the nerves, which result in vascular spasms.
Symptoms:
Temperature related blanching of toes or fingers (Raynaud’s phenomenon).
• Constrictions to the renal and mesenteric arteries
• Aneurysms (dilations) to the aorta/main artery and peripheral arteries
• Embolisms (formation of blood clots which break away into smaller vessels)
• Inflammatory vascular diseases (vasculitis)
• Compression of vessels by muscles or tendons from outside (so-called entrapment phenomenon)
• Compression caused by weaknesses to the vascular wall (cystic adventitial degeneration) from inside
• Vascular misformations and vascular tumors
• Compression of vessels and nerves caused by increased pressure in groups of muscles (compartment syndrome)
Vein thrombosis
Varicosis
Chronic venous insufficiency
Superficial inflammation
of the vein (thrombophlebitis)
Spider veins
Vein thrombosis is a sudden obstruction of a deep vein caused by a blood clot, counting as the most dangerous acute vein disease.
Risks:
This blood clot can not only block a vein and thus diminishing the blood circulation, which could lead to an open leg (ulcus cruris), but can also be washed out into the lung, causing a pulmonary vessel obstruction (pulmonary embolism), all resulting in long-term damage.
Symptoms:
Swelling of the leg, aching while walking, shortness of breath, dull pain, feeling of tension, coughing up blood (pulmonary embolism).
A vein thrombosis is an EMERGENCY, it must be treated immediately!
Insufficiency of the superficial vein system manifesting itself in different forms.
Symptoms:
Visible varicose veins, legs can feel heavy, ankles can be swollen, dark discoloration of the inner malleolus.
Chronic venous insufficiency is defined as the weakening of vein valves causing a leakage in the deep and/or superficial vein system in combination with a reduced venous pump function.
This leads to a reversed blood flow:
the blood flows back to the feet rather than back to the heart.
Symptoms:
Swelling of the legs, caused by congestion, progressive skin alterations and ultimately an open leg/ulcer. (Nonetheless, an ulcer can also be the result of an arterial circulatory disease).
An untreated blood clot in a superficial vein can sometimes be imbedded in the deeper vein system causing an inflammation.
Symptoms:
A varicose vein can appear hard and painful, there might be localized swelling and overheating.
Are harmless small, damaged and dilated veins appearing on the surface of the skin.
Symptoms:
Usually asymptomatic, painless and in combination with cellulitis.
Lymph oedema
Erysipelas
Ulcer
As a result of damage to the lymphatic drainage system, fluid can accumulate and cause swelling in the leg. This can be innate (primary lymph oedema) or be the consequence of other illnesses (secondary), such as following an operation.
Symptoms:
Swelling of the leg, feeling of heaviness, hardening of the skin, formation of ulcers.
Bacterial infection of the upper dermis and the superficial congested lymphatic vessels.
Risk: blood poisoning (sepsis).
The risk of blood poisoning is an EMERGENCY and has to be treated with antibiotics immediately!
Chronically clogged lymphatic vessels and cracked skin cause an interference with the healing process of the skin, resulting in open sores (ulcers).
Risk: Infection.
Our specialists offer personal consultation, explain every single detail to you and recommend the best possible solution for your issue.
Our approach to therapy: “Minimally invasive – maximally gentle”. Thanks to the latest treatment methods, open surgery can be avoided in most cases.
Outside of surgery hours,
please call the emergency
medical assistance service on:
Telephone number 116 117.
Haimhauserstraße 4 | 80802 Munich
T: 089 33 76 66+49 (0)89 33 76 66
F: +49 (0)89 33 76 25
E: info(at)gefaesszentrum-muenchner-freiheit.de
Opening hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday:
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday:
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
