Vascular disease
Vascular disease is a broad term used to describe conditions and diseases affecting the arteries and veins. These blood vessels are vital for blood circulation throughout the body, and problems with vascular function may result in adverse health effects.
Vascular disease treatment in Largo, Florida
If you have leg pain, leg cramps or need to rest when walking, you may be showing symptoms of a serious vascular disorder.
HCA Florida Largo Hospital's highly trained physicians, nurses and technologists can help, as they have extensive expertise in all aspects of vascular diseases. This team will use the latest technology in diagnostic testing and treatment options to help you understand and treat your peripheral arterial and venous disorders.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties
Our vascular care and services
We offer a wide range of vascular disease diagnostics, treatments and care, to ensure your lasting vascular health.
Diagnosing vascular conditions
Our extensive heart screening and imaging services help our cardiovascular specialists diagnose vascular diseases or disorders. They may use:
- Arteriogram: During an arteriogram, dye is injected into the arteries while X-rays are taken. The dye shows the blood flow through the arterial system, allowing blockages to be accurately pinpointed.
- Testing of the arteries and veins: During these types of tests, blood pressure cuffs are placed at several points along your legs and a Doppler ultrasound is used to take your blood pressure. You may be asked to walk on a treadmill, and your ankle pressures will be taken again to determine if the pressures decreased when you walked.
- Ultrasound: An ultrasound can be used to evaluate blood flow and measure the diameters of the arteries.
Treatments for vascular issues
Your physician will use results from your diagnostic tests to determine the best treatment plan and course of action to take for your particular situation. These treatments may include:
- Diet changes
- Exercise
- Medication
- Vascular surgery, such as angioplasty, stenting or bypassing
Surgical treatments for vascular disease
Our state-of-the-art suite enables our vascular surgeons to perform advanced therapeutic procedures, including:
- Balloon angioplasty (inflates a balloon on a catheter to widen a narrowed or blocked artery)
- Intravascular stents (places a stent to open the artery and increase blood flow to the heart)
- Intravascular thrombolysis (medication to dissolve clots)
- Mechanical atherectomy (removes the buildup of plaque or fatty materials in diseased arteries)
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
PAD is a type of peripheral vascular disease in which the arteries carrying blood to the legs or arms become clogged with cholesterol plaque. Although anyone can develop PAD, it is most common in people 50 years old and older.
PAD risk factors
You may be at higher risk of having PAD if you:
- Are 50 years old or older
- Are a smoker
- Are overweight
- Have a family history of vascular disease
- Have high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol
PAD symptoms
Unfortunately, leg pain and other symptoms of PAD are too often dismissed as an expected part of aging. However, untreated, PAD can be deadly, so you should see a physician if you experience:
- The need to rest when walking because of pain or cramps in the leg
- Discoloration of the foot or leg
- Numbness or tingling in the toes, foot or leg
- Sores or ulcers on the foot or leg that heal slowly
Intermittent leg pain or cramping (claudication)
When you walk, your leg muscles need increased amounts of oxygen to do their work. If you have blockages in your leg arteries, or in the arteries leading to the legs, your body may not be able to get enough oxygen-rich blood to your legs. The decrease in oxygen to your legs will often result in claudication, which is a major symptom of PAD.
Claudication can be described as an aching, cramping, tired, heavy and burning pain in one or both legs that comes and goes. It typically occurs in the calves while walking and goes away with rest.
If you have claudication, you will probably be able to walk a certain distance, such as three blocks, before cramping becomes so severe you must stop and rest. When you have rested until the pain is gone, you may walk exactly the same distance again before having to stop and rest. The distance a person is able to walk varies with the severity of the blockages in the arteries.
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Our Vascular disease Locations
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