Vascular dementia research and advice resource
Google Tech Talk February 11, 2011 Presented by Dr. Nick Leeper, Stanford University. Come out and hear Dr. Nicholas Leeper of Stanford University discuss cardiovascular disease. This talk will give you tips to stay healthy and a look at the future of cardiovascular technology.
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PAD Disease – Just One of a Handful of Serious Vascular Diseases
Article by Elizabeth Dennis
Vascular diseases cause blockages in blood vessels and/or cause plaque buildup on the sides of the blood vessels. These blockages and plaque buildup restrict blood flow to the heart and brain causing heart attack, stroke, and even death. Let’s take a look at the different types of vascular diseases.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
Peripheral arterial disease, also known as PAD, is being recognized by more and more cardiac professionals. It afflicts as many as 10 to 12 million Americans and is a condition of the peripheral arteries, the blood vessels outside of the heart. Plaque from fat and cholesterol accumulate on the vessel walls, in turn narrowing the passage through the artery and significantly slowing down blood flow. Symptoms are often reported as leg pain, toe pain, tiredness in the legs, color or temperature changes in the lower legs, ulcers, numbness, and sores.
To screen for PAD, a simple test called ABI (ankle-brachial index) is performed. The test measures blood pressure in the arm and ankle while resting and then again after exercise. The ABI can determine if blood pressure is lower in the legs which can indicate PAD as well as risk for other vascular diseases.
Venous Disease
Comprised of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), venous disease occurs when the valves inside the veins become damaged and do not open and close properly. The result is pooling blood or swelling in the veins which can slow down blood flow and cause blood clots.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
DVT is a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg. Symptoms are often swelling in one leg, pain or tenderness in one leg, increased warmth in one leg, or changes in skin color in one leg. DVT is considered an acute medical condition as opposed to a chronic one. Acute medical conditions appear and change or worsen rapidly. With DVT a blood clot can travel to the heart, brain, or lungs causing a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism. DVT is caused by extended sedentary positions including long plane flights or extended hospital stays. The best prevention against DVT is to minimize risk factors for developing the blood clot in the first place.
Minimize Risk Factors for Vascular Disease
You can reduce your risk of vascular disease on your own through healthy changes in your lifestyle. These changes include stopping tobacco use, controlling your blood sugar and cholesterol levels, reducing saturated fat consumption, along with weight-bearing and cardiovascular exercise.
About the Author
Elizabeth Dennis is a writer of health, beauty, and fitness articles. She regularly contributes to the hair removal surgery guide and the cough treatments guide. She also writes for the popular migraine cause guide.
Vascular disease Causes and Treatment for Peripheral Vascular Disease
Vascular disease is mainly caused by hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) due to a thickening of the artery lining from fatty deposits or plaques (atheroma).
The arteries are blood vessels that supply blood, oxygen and nutrients to the body from the heart. Narrow, hardened arteries make it more difficult for blood to flow through and reach the tissue in question.
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Those parts of the body most affected by this disease suffer the consequences of an inadequate blood supply: poor function, tissue damage and, in worst cases, death.
There are different symptoms, depending on where the vascular disease is. It most commonly affects the arteries of the heart, brain and legs.
Causes of Vascular Dementia
Common causes of vascular dementia include:
1. Advanced age
2. High blood pressure
3. Smoking and passive smoking
4. High cholesterol levels
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5. Diabetes
6. Heart disease and other existing heart conditions.
Symptoms of Vascular Dementia
The onset of vascular dementia often goes unnoticed in the early stages, particularly when the first strokes that eventually lead to dementia are very minor. Sometimes, symptoms such as cognitive and intellectual impairment and difficulty carrying out everyday tasks may become apparent only in the mid-to-late-stages of vascular dementia. In addition, symptoms may even improve, or at least stabilize for a while, until the next stroke.
Symptoms of vascular dementia vary according to the severity of the strokes, but include:
1. Memory loss
2. Confusion
3. Forgetfulness
4. Poor concentration
5. Inability to cope with simple daily activities
6. Language impairment, slurred speech
7. Inability to follow simple instructions
8. Behavioral changes
Hypertension also interferes with the reninangiotensin-aldosterone system, resulting in ischemia and reduced blood volume to the kidneys. Water and sodium reabsorption are increased in an attempt to increase the glomerular filtration rate, resulting in volume overload and higher vascular pressure, which cause sclerosis of the glomeruli.
Noninvasive tests for peripheral vascular disease include segmental pressure measurements, anklebrachial indexes, and pulse volume recordings.
For a segmental pressure measurement, blood pressure cuffs are placed at four sites: on the thigh, directly above the knee, directly below the knee, and at the ankle. Then, the pressure cuffs are inflated sequentially. If systolic pressure decreases by 15% or more from one site to another, the patient may have significant lesions.
A physician may order an exercise stress test along with an anklebrachial index and pulse volume recording. During the test, the patient exercises until he develops significant claudication. Then an anklebrachial index is performed by taking systolic blood pressures in the ankle and arm simultaneously. Severe claudication causes a significant difference between the ankle and brachial blood pressures during low-level exercise.
Pulse volume recordings are obtained at the same time as the anklebrachial index. If the patient has significant occlusions, the volume’s amplitude will be reduced, and the height of its contour will be decreased.
Two invasive diagnostic tests, color flow Doppler ultrasonography and angiography, also can detect peripheral vascular disease. These procedures are performed to pinpoint the area of the lesion when surgery or angioplasty is planned. Color flow Doppler ultrasonography allows direct visualization of the major vessels and blood flow. Angiography provides information on the location and extent of the atherosclerotic disease.
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Read more on Vascular Disease Treatment and Peripheral vascular disease and also visit on Premature Ejaculation Treatment
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