Circulatory disorders: These diseases threaten

Hardened and narrowed arteries usually cause circulatory problems. If these deteriorate and go unnoticed, various secondary diseases can occur. We will explain to you exactly which ones are involved.

What are circulatory disorders?

Circulatory disorders are a peripheral arterial disease (PAOD) in which the blood vessels are narrowed. The blood cannot flow through the arteries as usual, so the oxygen supply is reduced. The most common cause responsible for these circulatory disorders is arteriosclerosis. Such arteriosclerosis is caused by deposits of fat and calcium, which thicken and narrow the blood vessels and therefore impair the blood flow. Risk factors include an unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking or diseases such as type 2 diabetes .

Circulatory disorders go unnoticed for a long time. Typical complaints are cold and pale limbs, weak pulse, numbness, delayed wound healing, muscle weakness and blue discolored toes and fingertips.

More about this here: Circulatory disorders: Look out for the following signs >>

This is how a circulatory disorder is diagnosed

A blood test, in which your values ​​for coagulation factors, enzymes, cholesterol and blood sugar are checked, provide precise information as to whether your symptoms are due to a circulatory disorder or whether other causes are possible. A double sonography, which measures the direction and speed of your blood flow, as well as an angiography, which shows diseased blood vessels in the X-ray image, are also revealing.

These diseases are threatened by circulatory disorders

If circulatory disorders remain untreated or worsen, this can have serious consequences for the entire organism:

In the worst case, this can lead to a heart attack , a stroke or an intestinal infection . Warning signs of a heart attack include chest pain and tightness, pale face, and cold shit. A stroke manifests itself through physical signs such as severe headaches, blurred vision, speech and understanding disorders, paralysis and numbness. You can recognize an intestinal infection by severe abdominal pain, blood in the stool, nausea and vomiting as well as flatulence.

If the circulatory disorders occur in the kidneys, they can lead to acute kidney failure . To improve blood circulation, the kidneys slow down the loss of fluid and produce less urine. Pollutants and degradation products remain in the body and accumulate in the blood.

Other consequences of circulatory disorders are the death of tissue through to the loss of limbs . Initial symptoms of circulatory disorders in the extremities are muscle pain in the legs, which increases with walking. Cold hands and feet as well as numbness also indicate a possible circulatory disorder.

prevent circulatory disorders

In order to prevent circulatory disorders as best as possible, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle in which regular exercise and a balanced diet are integral parts. Avoid the risk factors mentioned above and pay particular attention to your LDL cholesterol level . Too high a value can lead to hardening of the arteries, as the “bad” LDL cholesterol from the blood accumulates in the vessel walls of the arteries. A high-fat diet, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and diseases such as hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes are considered the greatest dangers.

Crystal Waston MD

Crystal Waston has a degree in Cross Media Production and Publishing. At vital.de she gives everyday tips and deals with topics related to women's health, sport, and nutrition.

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