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  Vascular Disease Awareness Month: What Is Vascular Disease?

  September is Vascular Disease Awareness Month! By the age of 50, 50% of women and 30% of men are affected by a vein disorder.  What Is Vascular Disease? Vascular disease is a term used to describe numerous conditions affecting the veins, arteries and small vessels.  Here are just a few examples of vascular diseases: Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Varicose Veins Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Symptoms can vary depending on the blood vessels affected. Coronary Artery Disease may present symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain while PAD can cause swelling, pain or weakness in the extremities. Unfortunately, a serious or even life-threatening event may occur before a patient even knows they have vascular disease as sometimes there are no symptoms. People are more at risk if they have a family history of vascular disease or have the following: Diabetes Obesity High cholesterol History of smoking Unhealthy diet How Does Vascular Associates of South Alabama Treat Vascular Disease? At Vascular Associates of South Alabama, their board-certified physicians are experts in treating patients with vascular disease. While some types can be treated with medications and changes in lifestyle, others may need surgery to ...
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  5 Ways to Lower Blood Pressure and Help Your Vascular Disease

  Maintaining optimal blood pressure is crucial for overall health and plays a significant role in preventing and managing vascular diseases. High blood pressure, or hypertension, can lead to serious problems if left unaddressed. Fortunately, there are several lifestyle changes you can adopt to lower your blood pressure and improve your vascular health. Here are five effective strategies to help you achieve these goals. #1: Adopt a Healthy Diet One of the most impactful ways to lower blood pressure is by following a healthy diet. Incorporate more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products into your meals. Reduce your intake of sodium, saturated fats and cholesterol. Emphasize foods rich in potassium, such as bananas, spinach and avocados, as it helps counterbalance the effects of sodium. A well-balanced diet can help control weight, reduce plaque buildup in arteries and promote overall vascular health. #2: Engage in Regular Physical Activity Regular exercise is key to maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming, each week. Additionally, include strength training ...
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  Resolutions for a Healthier You and Your Vascular Health

  Welcome to 2024, a New Year filled with opportunities for growth, self-improvement, and most importantly, better health! As we embark on this journey of renewal and transformation, it's crucial to prioritize not only our overall well-being but also the health of our vascular system. At Vascular Associates of South Alabama, we believe that adopting resolutions focused on vascular health can lead to significant improvements in your quality of life. Let's explore some resolutions to help you embrace the New Year and become the best version of yourself. 1. Prioritize Regular Exercise Incorporating regular physical activity into your daily routine is one of the most effective ways to maintain optimal vascular health. Whether it's brisk walking, cycling, swimming, or yoga, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. Exercise improves circulation, strengthens blood vessels, and helps control weight, reducing the risk of vascular diseases such as peripheral artery disease and deep vein thrombosis. 2. Adopt a Healthy Diet Fuel your body with nutrient-rich foods that promote heart and vascular health. Incorporate plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean ...
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  How to Keep Vascular Disease Under Control During the Holidays

    It’s officially the holidays! While it’s a great time to spend with family and friends, all the festivities can cause issues with your vascular disease. From the unhealthy foods to the stress of it all, it’s crucial to be vigilant and up-to-date on your condition. Watching Your Diet Christmas cookies, fudge and fruit cake! Who doesn’t love digging into some sweet and savory foods during the holidays? Patients suffering with vascular disease don’t necessarily have to miss out on the good stuff, but definitely need to avoid overdoing it.  Here are some things to remember when it comes to your diet: Limit alcohol consumption Don’t use too much sodium Keep portion size in mind Eat the good, festive foods like cranberries and sweet potatoes  Don’t over indulge in foods high in sugar Controlling Stress It’s important to manage stress during the holidays. Stress can increase heart rate and blood pressure while narrowing blood vessels. This can be particularly worrisome for patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) or other vascular diseases as the veins are already narrowed.  There are some things you can do to manage stress like: Just saying “no” and ...
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  What’s the Difference Between Vascular Disease and Heart Disease

    Vascular disease and heart disease are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. Both conditions can have serious consequences for a person's health, but they affect different parts of the body and have different causes. What Is Vascular Disease? Vascular disease refers to any condition that affects the arteries, veins or small vessels in the body. This can include conditions such as peripheral artery disease (PAD) affecting blood flow to the extremities and bulging, purplish varicose veins just beneath the skin’s surface. Vascular disease can be caused by a number of factors, including smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. What Is Heart Disease? On the other hand, heart disease refers specifically to conditions that affect the heart muscle or the blood vessels that supply the heart. Some examples include coronary artery disease (CAD) from a buildup of plaque in the blood vessels that supply the heart and heart failure due to a weakening of the heart muscle. How Are Vascular and Heart Disease Similar? Both can lead to serious health problems, such as a heart attack, stroke or even death. However, ...
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  Navigating Vascular Ultrasounds: Your Top Questions Answered

  Vascular ultrasounds are a vital tool in diagnosing and managing vascular diseases, offering crucial insights into the health of veins and arteries. At Vascular Associates of South Alabama, we understand the importance of providing comprehensive care and information to our patients. Let’s address some of the top questions you may have about vascular ultrasounds. 1. What Is a Vascular Ultrasound? A vascular ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging technique used to evaluate blood vessels. By utilizing sound waves transmitted painlessly through the skin, vascular ultrasounds produce detailed images of blood flow, detecting issues such as narrowing, blockages, or abnormalities that could affect circulation. 2. How Is a Vascular Ultrasound Performed? During a vascular ultrasound evaluation, a special gel is applied to the skin over the area of interest. This gel facilitates the movement of a handheld transducer over the skin's surface, transmitting sound waves and capturing their reflections as they bounce off blood vessels. These reflections are then interpreted by a computer to generate real-time images displayed on a monitor. 3. What Conditions Can Vascular Ultrasounds Diagnose? Vascular ultrasounds are instrumental in diagnosing various vascular conditions, ...