PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE

A narrowing or hardening of artery walls can prove fatal when affecting organs such as the heart or brain, but obstructed arteries feeding the peripheral organs can go unnoticed until the disease is at an advanced stage. Depleted blood flow to the legs can cause symptoms such as cramping, an absence of hair and gangrene that occurs following cell death. Individuals living with diabetes are at particular risk of developing peripheral artery disease due to the abundance of glucose in blood plasma. This interferes with other components in the blood, leading to plaque formation. However, a healthy lifestyle involving regular exercise, not smoking and a low-fat, high-fibre diet can help prevent arterial disease for most adults.

“Diseases affecting blood vessels are among the biggest killers each year”

When blood flow is cut off from the feet, cells can begin to die, leading to gangrene

Haemorrhagic strokes involve a blood vessel rupture that causes internal bleeding in the brain

Blood vessel aneurysms can appear in different forms: secular, with bulges on one side (left); fusiform, with bulges on all sides (centre) or dissect, where blood flows into an internal tear, causing a bulge (right)