Coronary artery disease

The coronary arteries are the heart’s main blood vessels. When plaque builds up in these arteries, they become narrow and stiff, reducing blood flow to your heart. 

Some people with coronary artery disease may have no symptoms. Others may experience chest pain or have a heart attack.

Treatment includes lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and regular physical activity, medications to manage high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and surgical procedures to improve blood flow.

Carotid artery disease

Your carotid arteries run from your neck to your brain, supplying oxygen-rich blood. When too much plaque builds up in a carotid artery, it can cause the artery to narrow. 

Narrowed arteries limit blood flow and can cause small blood clots. If a clot breaks off and travels to your brain, it can cause a stroke. If your doctor identifies carotid artery disease early, they can often treat it to prevent strokes.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Also called peripheral atherosclerosis, this condition affects the arteries that supply blood to your legs, or, in rare cases, to your arms. It develops over time as plaque builds up in these arteries. If left untreated, blood flow becomes limited or blocked.

Blockages can cause muscle cramps, pain with activity, or changes in your skin’s appearance. Some people may also develop sores or ulcers. If you completely lose circulation, it can lead to necrosis (tissue death) or the loss of a limb. 

Treatment for PAD may include medication to improve blood flow and lower high cholesterol, minimally invasive procedures to clear blockages or surgery to bypass a blocked artery.
 

Raynaud’s syndrome

Also called Raynaud’s disease or Raynaud’s phenomenon, this rare condition causes the small arteries in your fingers and toes to narrow when you get cold or feel stressed. 

When the arteries narrow, blood can’t get to the surface of the skin, causing it to turn white and blue. When the blood supply comes back, skin turns red and may feel tingly. In severe cases, loss of blood flow can cause sores or tissue death.

Treatment may include medication to keep the blood vessels open, dressing warmer or avoiding stress triggers.

Renal artery disease

Also known as renal artery stenosis, this condition affects the arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood to your kidneys. When these arteries become narrow, stiff or blocked, your kidneys don’t receive the blood, oxygen and nutrients they need to work properly. 

Renal artery disease is most often due to atherosclerosis. Untreated, it can lead to kidney failure. Common treatments include minimally invasive procedures to clear blockages or surgery to bypass the blocked artery.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT)

CVT happens when you have a blood clot in a cerebral vein in the brain. The cerebral veins drain blood from the brain. If blood collects in one of these veins, it will leak into brain tissues. This can cause a hemorrhage or severe swelling. 

If treated early, CVT can be managed without causing serious, life-threatening complications. Treatment may include medication to improve blood supply and stop clots from forming, or surgical procedures to remove the blood clot and repair the vein.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

This condition happens when a blood clot forms in a deep vein. DVT usually occurs in veins in your thigh, pelvis or lower leg. It can also develop in your arm. Untreated, a clot can limit blood flow or break off and travel to an organ such as the lungs, causing serious complications.

Treatment most often includes medication to improve blood supply and stop clots from forming. In some cases, your doctor may insert a filter into the large vein that returns blood to the heart. This device serves as a “clot catcher.”

Pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in an artery in your lungs. It happens when a clot breaks off from somewhere else in your body and travels into a lung. The sudden blockage limits your heart’s ability to pump or take in oxygen.

This condition is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms such as sudden chest or back pain, a racing pulse, shortness of breath, dizziness or coughing spells (with or without blood), call 911.

Treatment for pulmonary embolism starts with medication to thin your blood or dissolve the clot. If medication does not clear the blockage, your doctor may remove the clot surgically. 

Paget-Schroetter syndrome

This condition is also called axillo-subclavian vein thrombosis. It happens when your collarbone or the muscles around it compress a vein in your armpit or the front of your shoulder, putting you at higher risk for blood clots deep in the vein. While rare, it is the most common vascular condition in young athletes.

Treatment for Paget-Schroetter syndrome includes medication to break up clots and improve blood flow and surgical procedures to relieve compression.

Superficial thrombophlebitis

This common inflammatory condition happens when you have a blood clot in a vein just under the skin. The clot — most often in veins of the legs, but also possible in your neck or arms — may cause redness, swelling and pain.

Treatment includes applying a warm or cold compress, elevating the affected area and taking pain medication to ease discomfort.

Brain aneurysm

An aneurysm happens when the wall of an artery becomes weak, resulting in a bulge in the blood vessel. If an aneurysm leaks or ruptures, it can cause bleeding into the area around the brain.

Treatment varies depending on whether an aneurysm has ruptured.

A ruptured aneurysm is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms such as severe headache, nausea, double vision, a drooping eyelid, light sensitivity, seizure or loss of consciousness, call 911. 

See how OHSU diagnoses and treats all types of brain aneurysms.

Stroke

Strokes are a serious condition that happens when blood flow to the brain stops because a blood vessel is blocked, narrowed or broken. 

Treatments include medication to manage blood flow, surgical procedures and rehabilitation.

During a stroke, brain cells start to die within minutes. A stroke is a medical emergency. If you have signs of a stroke, such as sudden weakness on one side of your body, disorientation or difficulty speaking, call 911. 

Learn about OHSU’s expert care for strokes and related disorders.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

This condition is similar to a stroke, and causes symptoms like weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech and vision problems. Unlike a stroke, the symptoms usually go away within 24 hours. 

A transient ischemic attack is sometimes called a “mini stroke.” Even though symptoms of TIA go away, you should still seek medical care right away to make sure what you experienced was not an actual stroke. TIA may be a warning sign of a future stroke.

Treatment may include lifestyle changes, medication and surgery.

Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia is memory loss, impaired thinking skills and behavior changes linked to decreased blood flow to the brain. 

It can happen quickly after a stroke. It can also develop gradually, as a result of several minor strokes or other conditions that affect blood vessels in the brain.

Treatment for vascular dementia focuses on slowing the disease’s progress by treating underlying health conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Vascular malformations

Vascular malformations happen when blood vessels develop abnormally. Over time, these malformations can grow and cause problems. One type, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), is a cluster of tangled veins and arteries in or on the brain. 

There may be no symptoms. If you have symptoms, they may include:

• Seizures
• Headaches
• Muscle weakness or numbness
• Speech or vision problems
• Memory problems
• Confusion or hallucinations

Treatment for AVM may include surgery, radiation therapy, and embolization (a minimally invasive treatment that blocks one or more blood vessels).

OHSU offers leading-edge diagnosis and treatment of AVM and related disorders.
 

Varicose veins

These swollen veins that you can see just under your skin are very common. Varicose veins usually occur in the legs, but they also can happen in other parts of the body.

While varicose veins rarely cause symptoms, some people have mild to moderate pain, swelling, sores or minor blood clots.

Treatment for varicose veins may start with wearing compression socks to relieve swelling. If that doesn’t work, you may consider a nonsurgical treatment. We can use heat to close the damaged vein or an injection of medication to keep the vein from filling with blood.

Spider veins

Like varicose veins, spider veins are visible just below your skin. Sometimes called thread veins, these small, damaged veins can be purple, blue or red. They appear as thin lines or webs, often on the surface of your legs or your face. They do not bulge out like varicose veins.

Spider veins rarely cause symptoms. If they cause pain, your doctor may suggest wearing compression socks to improve blood flow to your legs. If symptoms continue or you do not like how spider veins look, you may consider a nonsurgical treatment.

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)

This condition happens when the walls or valves in your leg veins do not work well. This makes it difficult for blood to return to the heart. Sometimes this is because a valve was damaged due to deep vein thrombosis or a blood clot. In other cases, it might be because of a hereditary valve disorder. Symptoms include: 

• A heavy feeling in your legs
• Swelling
• Pain
• Darkening skin
• Sores on the inside of your ankle that are slow to heal

Treatment for CVI may start with compression socks to relieve swelling and improve blood flow. If needed, nonsurgical and surgical treatments are options.
 

Limb ischemia

Limb ischemia happens when blood flow to your limbs is blocked. It usually affects the legs but could also happen in your hands or feet. 

Acute (fast occurring) limb ischemia can result from the plaque buildup that causes peripheral artery disease, or from a blood clot that breaks free and clogs a blood vessel. Chronic (long-term) limb ischemia happens when blood vessels narrow slowly over time. 

Symptoms in the affected limb include:

• Pain
• Tingling sensation
• Weak pulse
• Skin changes
• Sores or infections that do not heal quickly
• Paralysis (in rare cases)

Treatment may include lifestyle changes and medication for pain, improve blood flow and manage high cholesterol or high blood pressure. 

Your doctor may also recommend nonsurgical treatment or surgery to remove plaque. In rare cases, you may lose a limb. If amputation is needed, OHSU specializes in limb-sparing approaches. 

Lymphedema

The lymphatic system is part of your immune system. This network of vessels (tubes), nodes (junctions) and other structures transports lymph, the fluid that filters toxins from your body.  

With lymphedema, this fluid builds up in your arms or legs because of a blockage in the lymphatic system. This common condition can cause swelling and pain or discomfort in the area around the blockage. 

Treatment includes compression socks or flexible bandages to reduce swelling. Physical therapy can help, including massage to drain fluid and exercise to build strength and movement.
 

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

This common condition affects the blood vessels outside the heart and brain. When these veins or arteries narrow, they can spasm or become blocked. 

Peripheral vascular disease usually affects your legs. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause. Symptoms include pain in the legs, especially with movement. 

Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, being physically active and eating healthy foods may be enough to manage PVD. Treatment also may include medication to improve blood flow or surgery to clear blocked blood vessels.
 

Thoracic outlet syndrome

This group of disorders happens when blood vessels or nerves in the neck or upper chest are compressed or injured. Symptoms may include: 

• Pain
• Numbness
• Tingling in the neck or arms that gets worse when arms are raised
• Swollen or blue arms or hands
• Sores on the fingers that do not heal quickly

Treatment may include physical therapy and injections to manage nerve-related spasms, and medication or surgical procedures to improve blood flow.
 

Vasculitis

Vasculitis is inflammation of the blood vessels. It happens when your immune system attacks it its own circulatory system. This can cause damage to arteries and veins that affects how blood flows through your body. Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Pain or numbness in the hands or feet

Treatment for vasculitis starts with medication to reduce inflammation and limit your immune system’s response. For severe cases, you may need blood filtration or IV treatments. Surgery may also be an option to clear or bypass blockages caused by vasculitis.