As the leading cause of death in the United States, it’s important that you take every precaution in preventing heart disease. Vascular screenings offer one of the best precautionary tools to screen for it, but how do you know if you need one? We’ve compiled some of the most common signs you need a vascular screening in Evansville, IN, so you can receive immediate treatment.
Common signs that you need a vascular screening include:
- Diabetes
- Being overweight or obese
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Stress
1. Diabetes
High blood sugar can have drastic effects on your heart and vascular system. Over time, high levels of sugar in your blood will damage the nerves and blood vessels that control your heart. This puts those with diabetes at much higher risk for heart disease than those who don’t have it.
Diabetics also run a higher risk of developing high:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
You also run a higher risk of heart failure if you have diabetes. Heart failure doesn’t mean that your heart stops beating. Instead, it refers to your heart’s inability to pump blood efficiently. This can result in swollen legs and fluid buildup in your lungs. Heart failure usually gets worse as time goes on. Vascular screenings can catch these problems early and help you get treatment.
To learn what vascular screenings are and what they check for, click here!
2. Being Overweight or Obese
Being overweight or obese can lead to all sorts of health problems as time goes on. Both are on the rise in the United States, making more people uncomfortable and reducing their quality of life. Being overweight also affects your heart health and plays a part in one in every four deaths in the U.S. resulting from heart disease.
Obesity increases your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. While it does cause spikes in bad cholesterol, being overweight also actively lowers your good cholesterol. This can make it especially dangerous for your vascular health. Getting a vascular screening in Evansville, IN, allows us to spot these issues so you can take steps towards a healthier lifestyle.
3. High Blood Pressure
Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure can be devastating for your vascular and overall health. It has the potential to damage your:
- Arteries
- Heart
- Brain
- Kidneys
- Eyes
High blood pressure damages your arteries by causing them to narrow, become damaged, or bulge out (aneurysm). It damages the heart through coronary artery disease, enlargement of the heart, and heart failure. The brain can become damaged due to a ministroke, stroke, mild cognitive impairment, and even dementia.
Hypertension affects the kidneys by causing them to become scarred (glomerulosclerosis) or to fail. With kidney failure, your body is no longer able to filter waste from the blood naturally. This can leave you dependent on dialysis or a kidney transplant. Your eyes can also be affected by high blood pressure, leading to blurred vision, scarring, nerve damage, and even blindness.
Click here to learn about different types of vascular surgery!
4. High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a type of fat that your body needs to function correctly. However, too much of it can result in high cholesterol and put you at risk for a number of vascular conditions.
This includes:
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Peripheral vascular disease
Coronary artery disease is the biggest threat associated with high cholesterol. It’s caused by cholesterol building up (plaque) in the walls of your arteries. This causes your arteries to harden (atherosclerosis) as time goes on and become narrow. Cholesterol can also break off and lead to a total or partial blockage of blood flow to the heart, possibly leading to a heart attack.
Cholesterol buildup isn’t limited to the arteries and blood vessels around your heart. It can also collect in pathways that lead to your brain. A blockage can result in a stroke that has long-lasting effects on your quality of life. It can also lead to peripheral vascular disease which can cause cramping in your legs and feet, often requiring rest until the pain subsides.
5. Stress
Your mental health can affect your body in positive and negative ways. Stress, for example, can increase inflammation in your body. This has been linked to other problems such as a reduction in “good” cholesterol (HDL) as well as increased blood pressure. Both of these conditions put you at risk for a wide range of health issues including heart attack and stroke.
Stress can also affect your vascular system in indirect ways. For instance, it can result in poor sleep and make you feel more tired. It can also cause you to make poor lifestyle choices such as being sedentary, eating unhealthy foods, and gaining weight. Vascular screenings can alert you to the effects stress has on your life and help you make better long-term choices.
Do you need a vascular screening in Evansville, IN? Call us today at (812) 424-8231 or (800) 264-8231 to schedule your appointment!
Diabetes and obesity increase your risk of health problems that put stress on your heart. High blood pressure and high cholesterol both increase your risk of heart problems. Stress can affect your vascular health in indirect ways, leading to heart issues. Vascular screenings in Evansville, IN, can help catch health problems that can have a major impact on your heart health.
Evansville Surgical Associates has been providing comprehensive and compassionate surgical care for over 50 years. Call us at (812) 424-8231 or (800) 264-8231. We are available from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm if you would like to schedule an appointment.
