Heart and Blood vessel diseases

Common diabetic heart and blood vessel diseases are coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebral vascular disease and peripheral arterial disease.

Two major types of heart and blood vessel disease, otherwise called cardiovascular disease common in diabetics are coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebral vascular disease. Narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels in the legs, a condition called peripheral arterial disease is also common with diabetics.

Coronary artery disease, otherwise called as ischemic heart disease, is developed by hardening or thickening of the walls of the blood vessels that go to your heart. This blood vessels supplies oxygen and other nutrients your heart needs for its normal functioning. If this blood vessels to your heart become narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits, the blood supply and thus oxygen and nutrients is reduced or cut off, resulting in a muscle damage and heart attack.

Cerebral vascular disease affects blood flow to the brain, resulting in strokes and TIAs. It is caused by narrowing, blocking, or hardening of the blood vessels that go to the brain due to fatty deposits or by high blood pressure.

Stroke results when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly stopped, which occur when a blood vessel to the brain or neck is blocked or bursts. Brain cells are then short supply of or no supply of oxygen and die. A stroke can affect speech, vision, or paralysis. Strokes are caused by fatty deposits or blood clots that limit or block one of the blood vessels in the brain or neck. People with diabetes are at increased risk for strokes caused by blood clots.

TIAs are caused due to a temporary blockage of a blood vessel to the brain. This blockage leads to a brief, sudden change in brain function, can lead to numbness, weakness particularly one sided, loss of balance, confusion, blindness in one or both eyes, double vision, speaking difficulty, or a severe headache. However, most symptoms disappear quickly and permanent damage is unlikely if not it could be a stroke. The occurrence of a TIA means that a person is at risk for a stroke sometime in the future.

Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart cannot pump blood properly. Heart failure develops over a period of years, and symptoms can get worse over time. People with diabetes have more risk of heart failure than non-diabetes. Congestive heart failure develops when fluid builds up inside body tissues. When it is in the lungs, breathing becomes difficult.

Cardiomyopathy develops when blockage of the blood vessels and high blood glucose levels damages your heart muscle and cause irregular heart beats. May not have any early symptoms, but later the symptoms are weakness, shortness of breath, a severe cough, fatigue, and swelling of the legs and feet. Diabetes can also interfere and limit pain signals that are commonly carried by the nerves, that’s why a person with diabetes may not have the common warning signs of a heart attack.

Another heart disease common in people with diabetes is peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Blood vessels in the legs are narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits, decreasing blood flow to the legs and feet. PAD increases the chances of a heart attack or stroke. Poor blood circulation to legs and feet also increases the risk of amputation. Some with PAD develop pain in the calf or other parts of the leg when walking and relieved by resting for a few minutes.