The vascular system is the body's network of blood vessels. It includes the arteries, veins and capillaries that carry blood to and from the heart. Problems of the vascular system are common and can be serious. Arteries can become thick and stiff, a problem called arteriosclerosis. Blood clots can clog vessels and block blood flow to the heart or brain. Weakened blood vessels can burst, causing bleeding inside the body.

You are more likely to have vascular disease as you get older. Other factors that make vascular disease more likely include

• Family history of vascular or heart diseases
• Pregnancy
• Illness or injury
• Long periods of sitting or standing still
• Any condition that affects the heart and blood vessels, such as diabetes or high cholesterol
• Smoking
• Obesity

Losing weight, eating healthy foods, being active and not smoking can help vascular disease. Other treatments include medicines and surgery.

Types of Vascular (Blood Vessel) Disease

Most vascular diseases are caused by conditions that clog or weaken blood  vessels, or damage valves that control the flow of blood in and out of the veins. Most vascular disease is caused by arteriosclerosis, often called "hardening of the arteries" (although veins also can be affected). In this condition, a sticky substance called "plaque" builds up inside the blood vessels. Over time, the blood vessels may weaken or become so clogged that the blood supply to affected parts of the body is reduced or blocked. The flow of blood also may be affected when a blood clot (thrombus) gets stuck in a blood vessel. 

Arterial Disease and Venous Disease

It is called "arterial disease" when arteriosclerosis, blood clots and other vascular conditions occur in the arteries. Problems that occur in the veins are called "venous disease." Some vascular conditions occur only in arteries,  others are unique to the veins.  Some can affect either type of vessel, such as aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVM) (abnormalities in the brain or elsewhere in which the blood vessels are tangled and distended). Aneurysm and AVMS are called "silent killers" because they often produce no symptoms until they rupture. 

Arterial Disease

Common diseases affecting the arteries include:

• Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (sometimes called peripheral arterial disease, or PAD) is a condition where the arteries that carry blood to the legs (and, less frequently, the arms) become narrow or clogged. 
• Carotid artery disease is a condition in which the arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain become clogged and may cause a stroke. 
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), or Triple A, is an area in the main artery of the heart (the aorta) that is weakened and bulges like a balloon. If it grows large enough, the aneurysm can rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding. Males over the age of 60 who smoke or have ever smoked and people with a history of AAA in their family are at highest risk for this disease.