The Loudermilk Heart and Vascular Center at Archbold provides a full range
of non-invasive and invasive services to care for your vascular system,
using the most sophisticated computerized imaging equipment available
to provide fast and accurate results.
What Is Vascular Disease?
Vascular disease is any condition that affects the arteries and veins in
your body. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart, while veins
return the oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart and lungs. When arteries
and veins become blocked or narrow, blood flow problems can occur.
Vascular diseases include:
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Carotid artery disease
Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the veins)
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
Stroke
Though symptoms vary depending on the disease, symptoms may include pain,
swelling, numbness or cramping in the affected part of the body, confusion
or difficulty speaking, severe headaches with no known cause, dizziness
or loss of balance, coldness in your leg or foot, or shortness of breath.
What Causes Vascular Conditions and Diseases?
It depends on the specific vascular disease, but here are a few known causes:
Genetics
Unhealthy cholesterol and high blood pressure levels
Infection or injury that damages veins
Medicines, including hormones
Other times, the cause remains unknown. But people who smoke, struggle
with diabetes or obesity or live a sedentary life are also at higher risk
for vascular disease.
What Can Vascular Surgeons Do?
Vascular surgeons are highly trained to treat every kind of vascular problem.
They can talk with you about how lifestyle changes through diet and exercise
can be the first steps in caring for your long-term health. Medications,
such as blood thinners, may also be recommended. In some cases, providers
will use catheters to send special medication directly to the blood clot
site to address the blockage.
If surgery is an option, vascular surgeons specialize in all types of interventions,
from open surgery to less-invasive endovascular procedures (procedures
used to treat problems in blood vessels), such as angioplasty and stenting.
Whether you have blocked carotid arteries in the neck, peripheral vascular
disease (which often affects the arteries in the legs and feet), or another
vascular condition, our vascular surgeons are here for you.
PAD Rehab
Archbold’s cardiology program offers specialized rehabilitation for
PAD, a problem that frequently affects the arteries in the legs and feet.
Called supervised exercise therapy, PAD rehab involves walking and other
leg exercises that improve circulation and reduce pain associated with
poor circulation in the legs. These periods of exercise are broken up
by periods of rest, with the goal of gradually increasing the amount of
time you are able to walk without pain.
Our dedicated PAD rehab therapists will work with you to develop an exercise
program specific to your condition and health. They’ll continue
to adapt your program as you progress, and your team will also work with
you on lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier and managing chronic
conditions that can contribute to PAD.
The Vascular Surgeons at Archbold can help you with a vascular condition.
Make an appointment by calling
229.226.0125.
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