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Symptoms of Small Blood Vessel Disease

Small blood vessel disease can occur either as the result of aging or due to a blockage somewhere in the circulatory system. The symptoms are easy to spot; once these symptoms appear, the person should seek medical attention immediately.

  1. Identification

    • The arteries and blood vessels in the human body vary in size and function. As a rule, the arteries closest to the heart are the largest arteries in the body; the size of the arteries decrease the further away from the heart they are located. Arteries and blood vessels eventually branch off to form the veins we are used to seeing; these are the structures affected by small blood vessel disease.

    Significance

    • Chest pains are the most common symptom of small blood vessel disease. There can be a painful clenching feeling on one side of the chest that could be accompanied by a painful sensation in the jaw on the same side. This normally happens when a person is over-exerting themselves through exercise or some other form of physical activity; however, some people experience these symptoms even when they are at rest. People beyond the age of 65 are at a higher risk of experiencing these painful symptoms while they are at rest, but this is not exclusive to this age group.

    Types

    • Small blood vessel disease can create physical discomfort in several different ways. There may be an ache in the shoulder or neck region, or the person may even experience abdominal discomfort that could lead to nausea and vomiting. Many of these physical symptoms are accompanied by uncontrollable sweating.

    Considerations

    • Symptoms of small blood vessel disease often revolve around the ability of the person to breathe. In some cases, a person may begin to experience an inability to breathe; this could lead to a dizzy or light-headed feeling, which could cause the person to faint. A person suffering from this condition could also begin to experience unexplained bouts of fatigue.

    Effects

    • Progressing small blood vessel disease can also take its toll on the skin of the arms and legs; some of the symptoms of the condition are a loss of hair on these limbs. Another, more serious symptom are lesions that appear on the toes and feet known as ischemic ulcers. These surface lesions could lead to amputation of the limb if they are not treated.

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