Published: 16/05/2018
Edited by: Antonietta Rizzotti
The main cause of death in the western world is vascular disease. They can be the cause of atherosclerosis, stroke or infarcts from often nefarious follow-ups. Prof. Claudio Salvatore Cinà, an expert in Vascular Surgery in Catania, talks about it
Vascular disorders: risk factors
Diseases affecting the blood vessels (atherosclerosis, stroke or infarction), involve a narrowing of the same, blocking the passage of blood to the brain and other parts of the body. It is therefore essential to learn about which subjects are at risk, and how to prevent the onset of vascular problems. Patients who have one or more of the following risk factors are more likely to develop vascular disease:
Family history of diseases affecting blood vessels;
Close relatives who have had abdominal aortic aneurysms;
Nicotine addiction;
Diabetes;
Incorrect and high fat diet;
Habitual consumption of alcohol;
High or low cholesterol HDL cholesterol;
Hypertension;
Obesity;
Lack of physical activity;
Presence of cardiac pathologies;
Adult age (over 45 years).
Why submit to vascular screening?
In the presence of such risk factors, it is appropriate to evaluate to undergo a vascular screening. The purpose of vascular screening is to prevent the onset of diseases related to the circulatory system, and to diagnose the disease in good time when it has already developed.
How is a vascular screening performed?
Vascular screening includes, first of all, an accurate specialist visit, on the basis of which the doctor will evaluate which diagnostic tests are appropriate for the specific individual. During the first meeting, the specialist doctor:
Performs a lifestyle assessment, including smoking, sporting activity and eating habits; and of the family history of cardiology;
Performs a complete physical examination that also includes arterial pressure and weight;
Requires specific laboratory tests to explore glucose and lipid metabolism, and other metabolic risk factors;
The collected data is then entered into software that evaluates the risk of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarcts, strokes and amputations.
What types of exams can be prescribed?
There are several screening tests that can be used according to individual patient risk factors:
Carotid Doppler used for the screening of carotid stenosis, ie narrowing of the arteries that go to the brain, and which can cause a stroke;
Abdominal ultrasound to explore the diameter of the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the abdomen, which sometimes dilates causing an aneurysm;
Ankle / arm index (also called Winsor index), which serves for the screening of peripheral vascular arterial occlusive disease; this pathology involves the blockage of blood vessels in the legs;
Measurement of pressure using a Sphygmomanometer;
Pressure holter, using a portable pressure gauge, used to record blood pressure every half hour over 24 hours;
Color-Doppler echocardium, which allows visualization of the anatomy of the heart muscle through the use of ultrasound. This test provides information on the contraction force of the heart and the function of its valves;
Stress electrocardiogram studies the electrical activity of the heart while physical exertion takes place and then explores the heart's reserves under stress.
*Translated with Google translator. We apologize for any imperfection
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