Risk Factors for Vascular Disease

The major preventable risk factors for vascular disease are tobacco smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, overweight, insufficient physical activity, high alcohol use and type 2 diabetes. Risk is higher for males than for females and strongly increases with age for both males and females.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has a subject area on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease.

HealthInsite also has specific topic pages linking to information on Arteriosclerosis, Deep Vein Thrombosis and High Blood Pressure.

Follow the links below to find information about risk factors for vascular disease.

Updated October 2011

20 Resources Found

Results 1 to 20 displayed.

Title:   Fainting
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Fainting is a momentary episode of unconsciousness caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure. Common causes include heat, pain or distress. If you feel faint, lie down and elevate your feet. You can get up slowly after ten minutes. If a person doesn't recover quickly, always seek urgent medical attention. The collapse could have been triggered by a more serious event such as cerebral haemorrhage (stroke).
Date:   Nov 2011
Title:   Blood pressure (low) - hypotension
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Hypotension, or low blood pressure, means that the pressure of blood as it circulates around the body is lower than normal or lower than expected. Hypotension is only a problem if it has a negative impact on the body. Symptoms may include light-headedness, dizziness, weakness, blurred vision, fatigue and fainting.
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Raynaud's phenomenon
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Raynaud's phenomenon affects the blood flow to the extremities, most often fingers and toes. It is caused by a sudden constriction of the blood vessels. The skin will change in colour from white, to blue and then red. There is usually discomfort such as pain, tingling and numbness. Women under 25 years are most susceptible. In some cases, Raynaud's phenomenon may be caused by an underlying autoimmune disorder, such as scleroderma.
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Vascular Health
Publisher:   HealthInsite Topic Page
Description:   Links to information about vascular health and vascular diseases, including prevention, risk factors, treatment, support services and statistics.
Date:   Jul 2011
Title:   Henoch-Schonlein purpura
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a short-term inflammation of certain blood vessels. Another name for Henoch-Schonlein purpura is anaphylactoid purpura. Symptoms include a purple spotted skin rash, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The cause is unknown, but HSP tends to develop after an upper respiratory tract infection or a bout of hay fever. Children and adults usually make a full recovery, but in extreme cases, the kidneys can be damaged.
Date:   Jun 2011
Title:   Cardiovascular disease
Publisher:   Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute
Description:   Cardiovascular disease refers to a class of diseases that involve the heart and/or blood vessels (e.g. arteries). It is commonly related to atherosclerosis, a process whereby fatty deposits (plaques) form in your arteries, causing them to narrow and possibly block completely.
Date:   Jun 2011
Title:   Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   A subarachnoid haemorrhage is a bleed usually associated with aneurysms or other weakened blood vessels of the brain. It can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Causes include a ruptured cerebral aneurysm, ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM), or trauma such as a blow to the head.
Date:   May 2011
Title:   Aneurysm
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in the wall of a blood vessel, such as an artery. Aneurysms most commonly develop along the aorta (the body's main blood vessel) and in blood vessels of the brain. If an aneurysm ruptures, death can occur in minutes.
Date:   May 2011
Title:   Smoking and heart disease
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Cigarette smoking is a major cause of heart attack, stroke and peripheral arterial disease. Nearly 40 per cent of all people who die from smoking tobacco do so due to heart and blood vessel disease. A smoker's excess risk of heart attack reduces rapidly after only one year of not smoking.
Date:   Mar 2010
Title:   Low blood pressure - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Blood pressure is determined by 3 main factors. Find out what causes low blood pressure and what you can do about it.
Date:   May 2009
Title:   Leg ache - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   One of the more serious causes of leg pain is intermittent claudication. Find out more about this condition.
Date:   Feb 2009
Title:   Dizzy turns - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Dizziness and giddiness are words used to describe a wide variety of sensations.
Date:   Dec 2008
Title:   Preventing foot ulcers
Publisher:   Australian Prescriber
Description:   Foot ulceration is an unfortunate complication of a number of chronic diseases, especially diabetes mellitus. Patients with peripheral neuropathy, foot deformity or peripheral vascular disease have an increased risk of developing foot ulcers.
Date:   Aug 2008
Title:   Garlic for peripheral arterial occlusive disease
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   The most common symptom of peripheral arterial occlusive disease is intermittent claudication, discomfort in the legs that is triggered by exercise and relieved with rest. The underlying cause is atherosclerosis. Risk factors associated with the develop...
Date:   Nov 2007
Title:   Vascular dementia - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Vascular dementia is the broad term for dementia associated with problems of circulation of blood to the brain.
Date:   Jul 2005
Title:   Endovascular coiling versus neurosurgical clipping for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Endovascular coiling of ruptured aneurysms in the brain leads to a better outcome than surgical clipping. Bleeding on the surface of the brain is called a subarachnoid haemorrhage. The bleeding usually comes from the rupture of a weak spot in an artery ...
Date:   Jun 2005
Title:   Treatment of urticaria
Publisher:   Australian Prescriber
Description:   Comments for consumers on the treatment of urticaria or hives.
Date:   Oct 2001
Title:   Treatment of urticaria
Publisher:   Australian Prescriber
Description:   Urticaria and angioedema can be caused by allergic and non-allergic mechanisms. While acute urticaria usually resolves quickly, chronic urticaria can persist for years.
Date:   Oct 2001
Title:   Looking after your legs
Publisher:   Multicultural Health Communication Service (NSW)
Description:   Advice on how to avoid congestion in your legs, with practical tips to help prevent potential circulatory problems.
Date:   Sep 2001
Title:   Long-term hormone replacement therapy
Publisher:   Australian Prescriber
Description:   The risks and benefits of taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for more than five years are uncertain. There are no large long-term randomised placebo-controlled trials to guide the duration of therapy.
Date:   Jan 2000

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