Small Blood Vessel Disease

Small blood vessel disease, otherwise known as coronary microvascular disease, occurs due the narrowing of the small coronary arteries in the heart. It is most common in women and diabetes patients.

Significance

• Coronary microvascular disease is hard to diagnose because it has symptoms similar to coronary artery disease----a condition that affects the large blood vessels.

Causes

• The causes of small blood vessel disease include plaque buildup, blood vessel spasms, and damage to the artery walls due to disease.

Symptoms

• The most apparent symptom of small vessel disease is chest pain, which especially occurs when a person is physically active. Other symptoms include breathlessness, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and excessive sweating.

Risk Factors

• Risk factors for coronary microvascular disease are the same as those for coronary artery disease. These include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, excess weight, stress, and diabetes.

Treatment

• Surgery is not a viable option because the blood vessels are too small to operate on. Treatment includes the following drugs and therapies: statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, L-arginine, and daily aspirin therapy.