Vascular Medicine
Vascular medicine focuses on conditions and diseases that affect arteries and veins, cause blood clots and impair blood flow. Vascular disease can contribute to a heart attack and stroke, two of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Merit Health offers a range of services for prevention and treatment of vascular diseases. Vascular specialists provide care for conditions such as:
- Aneurysm
- Atherosclerosis
- Buerger's disease
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Pulmonary embolism
- Varicose veins
The vascular medicine team at Merit Health provides a range of care, including:
- Diagnostic technology - Heart and vascular specialists utilize imaging technology such as computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), or a minimally invasive coronary angiogram, to evaluate and diagnose heart, vascular and peripheral artery disease.
- Risk-factor management - Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and unhealthful habits such as a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and improper diet can contribute to vascular and heart disease. Merit Health offers educational and preventive-screening services to help promote healthful practices that contribute to heart and vascular health. A multidisciplinary team can provide a treatment program to manage risk factors to minimize the risk of developing or aggravating vascular disease.
- Surgical interventions - Minimally invasive catheter-assisted techniques such as angioplasty, atherectomy and stent placement can be used to remove plaque build-up, break up blood clots and reopen blocked blood vessels. Vascular specialists use minimally invasive procedures whenever possible.