Arterial Disease and Venous Disease: Two Categories of Vascular Disease
Your vascular system is made up of all the blood vessels running through your body, and include:
- Arteries (which carry blood from the heart)
- Veins (which return blood to the heart) and include the smallest blood vessels, called capillaries
Being diagnosed with a vascular disease means you have arterial (or artery) disease or venous disease and have symptoms that also fall into one of these two categories. Generally the risk for vascular disease increases with age, but other factors increasing your risk for developing vascular diseases include:
- A family history of vascular or heart diseases
- Pregnancy
- Sitting or standing in one place for extended periods
- Other diseases or conditions affecting your vascular system or heart, such as diabetes or high cholesterol
- Smoking
- Obesity
Regular exercise, a healthy diet and proper weight maintenance can help as well as lower your risk for vascular diseases and vascular disease symptoms. Vascular disease treatment options include medicines and vascular surgery.
The University of Michigan Vascular Medicine Program
The Vascular Medicine Program, part of the Frankel Cardiovascular Center at the University of Michigan, offers a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and management of patients with all forms of vascular disease.
We bring together in one location a team of experts from interventional cardiology, interventional radiology, cardiovascular medicine, vascular medicine, and vascular surgery. Few other centers in the nation offer this coordinated level of care. Our mortality rates are among the lowest in the country, even after factoring in the high volume of complex cases we handle.
Our Vascular Medicine Program also encompasses:
- Diagnostic Vascular Unit: This is a full-service, ICAVL-accredited, clinical diagnostic laboratory that performs noninvasive ultrasound studies for venous and arterial diseases. Our labs perform approximately 2,100 tests every month, including both inpatient and outpatient procedures.
- Venous Health Program: We offer complete care for a wide variety of vein issues, including deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, venous insufficiency, spider veins, and problems with single leg swelling. A single resource for the treatment of venous disease. Read more about Venous Disease.
- Vascular Surgery: If your vascular condition requires surgery, your physician may refer you to our clinic. We have expertise in a variety of techniques and treatments, including angioplasty and stent placement, bypass grafting and angiography. We offer minimally invasive surgery options almost exclusively, which allow shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times. We have even pioneered new techniques for the treatment of carotid artery disease.
With everything available at one location you can get a complete workup and, if necessary, get surgery within a few days of coming in to our center.
Make an Appointment
Visit our Make an Appointment page for more information.