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What is Vascular Stenosis?

H. Colledge
H. Colledge

Vascular stenosis is a term used to describe the narrowing of blood vessels. Most commonly, blood vessel narrowing occurs as a result of atherosclerosis inside arteries, the vessels which carry blood from the heart to supply the body. Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is a process in which fat, cells and other substances build up inside artery walls forming what are called plaques. These atheromatous plaques make the walls of an artery harder and thicker, so the blood vessel becomes narrower and less flexible, making it more difficult for blood to flow through. Vascular stenosis typically affects arteries in the brain, heart and legs and, when severe, causes tissue death, resulting in conditions such as strokes and heart attacks.

The abnormal narrowing of arteries caused by atherosclerosis can affect arteries in the legs, particularly those supplying the calf muscles. This can lead to a condition known as intermittent claudication, where, in the early stages, cramping pains are felt in the calves after walking a certain distance. The pain goes away after resting for a few minutes. If the disease progresses, the pain is experienced even while resting and leg ulcers, or even gangrene of the toes and feet, may occur.

When blood vessels narrow, it is called vascular stenosis.
When blood vessels narrow, it is called vascular stenosis.

Vascular stenosis of arteries in the heart can lead to a condition called angina, where pain is felt in the chest during exercise. Again, resting usually causes the pain to go away within a short time, although there is the potential for an artery to become completely blocked. In this case the pain becomes heavy and persistent, possibly spreading to the arm or neck, and a heart attack takes place, in which an area of heart muscle dies off.

With stenosis, blood vessels narrow and might need repair to keep blood flowing.
With stenosis, blood vessels narrow and might need repair to keep blood flowing.

When arteries in the brain are affected by vascular stenosis, this can shut off the blood supply to part of the brain tissue or lead to the rupture of a small blood vessel, with bleeding into the brain. Either of these events results in a stroke, where an area of brain tissue dies off, causing a range of possible symptoms including paralysis, numbness, and problems with speech, sight, movement and balance. Carotid artery stenosis, which is narrowing of the large arteries in the neck, may also reduce the brain's blood supply and lead to a stroke.

Vascular stenosis may cause angina.
Vascular stenosis may cause angina.

If the stenosis becomes severe enough to cause a stroke or heart attack, emergency treatment in the hospital will be required. Prevention is important, and progression of stenosis can be halted and the outlook improved by stopping smoking, losing weight, eating more healthily and exercising more. Medication is available to treat conditions such as angina and intermittent claudication, and surgery is sometimes used to bypass or widen blocked arteries. It is also beneficial to treat any other conditions which tend to make vascular stenosis worse, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Discussion Comments

anon962439

My carotid artery is 60 percent blocked. Is that dangerous and would I need an operation?

anon295395

I'm 39 years old. I have already have had my aorta replaced from my heart, eight inches down my illiac arteries. I have hardening of the arteries. It's been awful on me.

I was a very outdoorsy kind of girl and now I can't do that. My legs and body will not allow me to do all the things I love. My Father passed in 1997. He suffered with this nasty disease too. But he was 61 when it was discovered in him. He was 72 when he left this world. I watched him go through all the pain. He lost both legs to his groin.

Now I see myself at my young age going through all the pain my Daddy did.

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    • When blood vessels narrow, it is called vascular stenosis.
      By: Balint Radu
      When blood vessels narrow, it is called vascular stenosis.
    • With stenosis, blood vessels narrow and might need repair to keep blood flowing.
      By: Monkey Business
      With stenosis, blood vessels narrow and might need repair to keep blood flowing.
    • Vascular stenosis may cause angina.
      By: nebari
      Vascular stenosis may cause angina.
    • When arteries in the brain are affected by vascular stenosis, blood supply to part of the brain tissue can be shut off.
      By: Mopic
      When arteries in the brain are affected by vascular stenosis, blood supply to part of the brain tissue can be shut off.
    • If vascular stenosis affects arteries in the brain, it can cause a stroke.
      By: joshya
      If vascular stenosis affects arteries in the brain, it can cause a stroke.