Vascular Diseases | Heart Diseases

You’re probably familiar with heart disease and the consequences of blockages in the vessels that carry blood to and from this vital organ. But you may not realize that blockages from plaque and cholesterol, and other vascular conditions, affect more than the coronary arteries. Arteries, veins and capillaries throughout the body carry oxygen-rich blood away from your heart, so serious health problems can occur anywhere. Plus, having one heart or vascular disease often greatly increases your risk for other conditions, and vice versa. Consider the following statistics:

• Every year, an estimated 1.26 million Americans will have a new or recurrent coronary attack.
• Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates up to four times higher than those without diabetes.
• Heart disease and stroke are the number one causes of death and disability among people with type 2 diabetes.
• At least 65% of people with diabetes die of some form of heart disease or stroke.
• When a person has both hypertension and diabetes, their risk for heart and vascular disease doubles.
• About 795,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke.
• Those with diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are at a high risk for PAD.
• People with PAD have three times the risk for heart attack and stroke. Women, alone, have four times the risk.
• People with coronary or stroke are also at an increased risk for PAD.

These statistics are important, as there are expected to be considerably more cases of heart and vascular disease, because they primarily affect seniors (and our population is aging), the obese and those with diabetes and high cholesterol — which are all on the rise. With this increase, knowledge of advanced procedures and comprehensive, integrated care will become even more critical to effectively treat heart and vascular disease, not just individual symptoms.

At Goshen Heart and Vascular Center, our multidisciplinary team of board-certified surgeons, cardiologists and radiologists consider innovative therapies from several different disciplines to offer solutions for even the most complex conditions. Described below are the most recognized heart and vascular diseases that we treat:

Vascular Disease

As the heart beats, it pumps blood through a system of blood vessels, called the circulatory system. The vessels are elastic tubes that carry blood to every part of the body. Vascular disease includes any condition that affects this circulatory system. This includes diseases of the arteries, veins and lymph vessels, as well as blood disorders that affect circulation.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) — Occurs when atherosclerosis reduces or blocks essential blood flow to the limbs. Early on, PAD may cause difficulty walking, but in its most severe form can cause painful foot ulcers, infections and gangrene, leading to amputation. Many people with PAD have no symptoms or mistake their symptoms for something else.

Stroke (Carotid Artery Disease) — Occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blood clot or when a blood vessel bursts. This typically occurs when a blood vessel in or around the brain gets blocked or ruptures. The lack of oxygen kills brain cells in the immediate area, often causing symptoms such as weakness or numbness on one side of the body, trouble walking or talking or vision changes. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA) — Caused by progressive weakening of the aortic wall creating a “ballooning” of the vessel. The aneurysm will grow larger and eventually rupture if it’s not diagnosed and treated. Aneurysms occur most often in the aorta, the main artery of the chest and abdomen. The aorta carries blood flow from the heart to all parts of the body, including the vital organs, legs and feet.

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA) — A widening (bulging) of part of the wall of the aorta, the body's largest artery. Most commonly occurs in the descending thoracic aorta, as well as ascending aorta or the aortic arch. Caused by atherosclerosis. Most patients have no symptoms until the aneurysm begins to leak or expand. Chest or back pain may mean sudden widening or leakage of the aneurysm.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) — Cause of leg pain and swelling, and commonly associated with varicose veins. It occurs when the valves of the veins do not function properly, and the circulation of blood in the leg veins is impaired. CVI can be caused by damaged valves in the veins or vein blockage. Over time, CVI may result in varicose veins, swelling and discoloration of the legs, itching and the development of ulcers near the ankles.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) — Occurs when a blood clot, or thrombus, develops in the large veins of the legs or pelvic area. Some may cause no pain, whereas others can be quite painful. With prompt diagnosis and treatment, the majority of DVTs are not life threatening. However, a blood clot that forms in the large, deep veins is more likely to break free and travel through the vein. It is then called an embolus. When an embolus travels from the legs or pelvic areas and lodges in a lung artery, the condition is known as a pulmonary embolism (PE), a potentially fatal condition, if not immediately diagnosed and treated.

Vasculitis — Inflammation of the wall of any size blood vessel. This may result in narrowing or occlusion (blocking) of the vessel, weakening of the vessel wall which could lead to an aneurysm and/or to hemorrhage or bleeding. When vessel narrowing or occlusion occurs, the organ supplied by that blood vessel suffers from ischemia (lack of oxygen), which can cause damage with a loss of organ function or even patient death if a critical organ is involved.

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Heart Disease

Heart disease is often used interchangeably with cardiovascular disease. The term generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a coronary heart disease, heart attack or chest pain (angina). Other heart conditions, such as infections, failure and conditions that affect the heart's muscle, valves or beating rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease.

Heart disease is the number one worldwide killer of men and women, and is responsible for 40 percent of all the deaths in the United States, more than all forms of cancer combined. Many forms of heart disease can be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices, diet and exercise.

Coronary Artery Disease — When cholesterol and fatty deposits build up in the heart’s arteries, less blood can reach the heart muscle. This buildup is known as atherosclerosis. The result may be chest pain (angina) or, if blood flow becomes totally obstructed, a heart attack. Coronary artery disease can also contribute to having high blood pressure which, over time, can lead to heart failure.

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) — Occurs when blood supply to the heart muscle (myocardium) is severely reduced or stopped when one or more of the coronary arteries are blocked by atherosclerosis. This plaque can eventually burst, tear or rupture, creating a “snag” where a blood clot forms and blocks the artery. If blood supply is cut off for more than a few minutes, muscle cells suffer permanent injury and die. One out of six Americans die of a heart attack.

Angina Pectoris (Chest Pain) — Occurs when the heart muscle doesn't get as much blood (or oxygen) it needs, as one or more of the heart’s arteries is narrowed or blocked. Those with angina have an increased risk of heart attack, cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) — Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood the heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in the arteries. The more blood the heart pumps and the narrower the arteries, the higher a person’s blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.

Arrhythmia — Causes the heart to beat too slow, fast or become erratic, so the heart pumps less effectively, preventing the lungs, brain and all other organs from working properly. Arrhythmias can lead to heart disease, stroke or sudden cardiac death. A common treatment for arrhythmia is a pacemaker

Heart Failure — A chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood through the heart to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. The heart tries to make up for this by enlarging, developing more muscle mass and pumping faster. The body tries to compensate by narrowing blood vessels to keep blood pressure up, and diverting blood away from less important tissues and organs to maintain flow to the heart and brain.

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If you could be at risk for any of these conditions, or to learn more about Goshen Heart and Vascular Center, talk to your doctor or call us today at 574.533.7476 to schedule an appointment.