In this Section:

• About Amputations
  • Before Birth
    • Amniotic Band Syndrome
  • After Birth
    • Diabetes
    • Trauma
    • Tumor
    • Vascular Incidents
    • Iraqi War

Other Sections

• Introduction
• About Amputations
• Dealing With Amputations
• Discrimination
• Famous Amputees
• Personal Accounts
• Interactive
  

About Amputations: After Birth:
Vascular Incidents

| Vascular Disease| Risk Factors |

Vascular Disease
Vascular disease is caused by the hardening of the arteries due to a thickening of the lining of the arteries. From the heart, blood vessels bring blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the body. With this vascular disease, the blood vessels become narrow, causing the body to get an inadequate blood supply and have tissue damage. This disease mainly affects the arteries of your heart, brain, and legs. If vascular disease affects the heart, a person may suffer from severe chest pains and angina. Since the flow of blood to the lower extremities of the body causes ulcers and gangrene, vascular disease can lead to amputation. Vascular disease usually starts at the age of twenty and then progresses as one gets older.
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Risk Factors
The direct cause of vascular disease is unknown but, doctors have determined what triggers vascular disease. Risk factors of vascular disease include smoking, family history, angina, heart attacks, obesity, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, high blood pressure and stress. Eating a healthier diet that includes vegetables and low-fat food is a way to combat vascular disease. Exercise and weight control also are good preventive measures.
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