Problems with blood vessels, which doctor should I consult?

Cases of manifestation of vascular pathologies are not exceptional. Recently, the frequency of their manifestation has increased significantly and a vascular doctor is required not only by the elderly population, but also by young people. Read this article to the end to find out everything about the thinnest blood vessel in humans.

Doctors themselves associate this trend with a significant deterioration in the environmental picture of large cities and people’s constant presence in stressful situations. Poor nutrition in combination with bad habits also leaves its mark.

Which doctor should I contact?

Interesting fact! Women experience varicose veins several times more often than men; a phlebologist or vascular specialist associates this feature with women wearing high heels.

Detection and treatment of vascular pathologies is a rather complex task. A person with such diseases turns to a therapist, who subsequently gives a referral to a specialist - a phlebologist. After a series of examinations, the doctor determines the diagnosis and selects adequate treatment.

It should also be noted that there are millions of vessels in the human body, and they all have different localizations. Depending on the nature and type of affected vessels, the problem can be dealt with by different specialists: a neurologist, cardiologist, angiologist and phlebologist. You should find out which doctor deals with blood vessels, and which specialist you should contact with specific symptoms.

Why is damage to the circulatory system dangerous?

When do you consult a neurologist?

Problems with blood vessels are a significant reason for concern.

Patients most often consult a therapist with the following symptoms:

• dizziness;
• blurred vision;
• ringing or congestion in the ears;
• increased fatigue;
• weakness and drowsiness.

In such cases, a general specialist refers the patient to a specialist neurologist. These signs are a symptom of disturbances in the functioning of the blood vessels of the brain. A vascular doctor will help with the treatment of the disease.

Which doctor will help you cope with vascular problems?

Attention! Brain vessels are examined and treated by a neurologist! The main task of the specialist is to restore normal blood circulation and prevent serious consequences, which are highly likely to occur with lesions of the cerebral arteries.

Those who treat arteries and veins of the brain should contact a neurologist directly with such pathologies.

The video in this article will introduce patients to all the specialists involved in the treatment of vascular pathologies.

Among the most common lesions of cerebral vessels are:

• atherosclerosis – manifests itself against the background of excessive accumulation of cholesterol in the human body;
• encephalopathy - manifests itself in disorders of brain structures, is a dangerous disease, leading to serious consequences;
• stroke is a serious complication of vascular pathologies, which often causes disability for the patient;
• VSD – vegetative-vascular dystonia. This disease often occurs in a latent form, its symptoms appear in advanced stages. The patient turns to the doctor at a time when the symptoms are very intense.

The most common diagnostic methods used by a neurologist are discussed in the table.

The MRI method is an expensive but effective diagnostic method

Which doctors can help?

The choice of doctor's specialization depends on the clinical picture formed during the disease. So, these are mainly therapeutic doctors: neurologist, phlebologist, cardiologist. These are also surgeons, for example, an angiologist. These doctors study the clinical signs of vascular diseases, diagnose them, and treat them.

However, in order for the attending physician to cure, the cause of the pathology must first be identified. Which doctor checks blood vessels? Diagnostics can be prescribed by any clinical specialist who needs data on the functioning of cerebral vessels. The vessels are directly checked by a radiation or functional diagnostics doctor who examines the arteries and veins using ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging using angiography.

Neurologist

A neurologist is a specialist in the field of neurology. He studies diseases associated with the pathology of the entire nervous system (central and peripheral).

You should contact a neurologist if there are signs of neurological diseases, the cause of which lies in the blood vessels. These are the following signs:

1. Often headaches occur with high blood pressure.
2. Mental activity decreased, attention became distracted, and it became more difficult to remember. It is difficult to control emotions, my sleep is upset.
3. Asthenic syndrome: painful fatigue, rapid exhaustion from simple work, impatience, restlessness, intolerance to sound, light and smell, irritability, emotional lability. What is the clinical picture, for example, of multiple sclerosis.
4. Increased intracranial pressure: headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, painful urination and coughing, decreased visual acuity.
5. Signs of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes: impaired consciousness, headache like a blow to the back of the head, frustrated speech, blurred vision, loss of sensitivity, partial or complete lack of muscle strength in the arms or legs.

The clinical picture of neurological diseases of vascular origin may be accompanied by mental disorders. In this case, a head doctor – a psychiatrist – gets involved. Occurs in cerebral atherosclerosis. Signs: memory loss, amnesia, disorientation, muscle rigidity, loss of motivation for any activity.

Phlebologist

A phlebologist deals with vein diseases. Brain pathology associated with disruption of these vessels is called “venous encephalopathy.” The basis of the disease is the difficulty of the outflow of venous blood from the vessels of the brain due to cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract, blockage of the lumen by a tumor or hydrocephalus.

You can contact a phlebologist if you often have a headache. Periodic cephalgia with venous encephalopathy has the following characteristics:

• in terms of severity and subjective sensations, light or medium;
• the pain is aching, bursting and monotonous;
• usually symmetrical, less often localized in the occiput and parietal region;
• it hurts more in the morning than in the evening;
• the pain intensifies when tilting the head down, drinking alcohol, smoking, drinking coffee and strong tea.

With venous encephalopathy, the face usually acquires a bluish tint, lips, nose, and ears are cyanotic. In the morning there is swelling of soft tissues, mainly in the area under the eyes. You can also externally see an enlargement of the saphenous veins of the neck.

Cardiologist

A cardiologist studies the signs and treats diseases of the cardiovascular system. This specialist does not directly treat cerebral vessels, however, due to the close connection of the cardiovascular system with the performance of the central nervous system, a cardiologist can influence the dynamics of pathologies of arteries and veins, and prevent complications, because the brain is the target organ for hypertension .

The functionality of the brain is determined by blood pressure, a disease that is dealt with by a cardiologist. You should contact him if cardiac signs appear at a pressure above 140/90: cardiac pain, rhythm disturbances, heaviness in the chest.

A cardiologist can prevent or treat a hypertensive crisis. This is a condition in which high blood pressure increases the risk of vascular pathologies of the brain, for example, ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Arterial hypertension is often asymptomatic, but with the cerebral version of a hypertensive crisis the following symptoms appear:

1. constant headache;
2. spots before the eyes;
3. vomit;
4. chills, trembling in the limbs, sweating, palpitations;
5. pale face;
6. muscle weakness;
7. mental agitation or vice versa, apathy and indifference.

Hypertensive encephalopathy against a background of constantly elevated blood pressure leads to neurological and mental disorders, for example, unsteadiness of walking, uncontrollable laughter and crying, decreased intelligence and memory, emotional disturbances or trembling of the fingers.

Which doctor should you contact if you have arterial hypertension and heart symptoms? A cardiologist. If arterial hypertension is accompanied by brain disorders, you should consult a neurologist.

Angiologist

An angiologist is a specialist who studies and treats diseases of the vascular and lymphatic systems. Angiologist is a conventional term, since formally this kind of specialist does not exist in developed countries of the world.

When talking about angiologists, we usually mean vascular surgeons. A doctor who treats surgical pathologies of cerebral vessels through surgery is called an endovascular neurosurgeon.

This doctor treats the head if vascular pathologies have arisen that can only be eliminated surgically:

• Cerebral aneurysm. You should consult a doctor if you have the following symptoms: headache in the frontal region, decreased intelligence, emotional lability, impaired sensitivity, decreased muscle strength.
• Arteriovenous malformation. It manifests itself as seizures, cluster headaches and focal deficit neurological symptoms, for example, loss of visual fields or speech disorders.
• Arteriovenous fistula. It manifests itself as headache, pulsating tinnitus, decreased vision, difficulty moving the eyes, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
• Thrombosis of cerebral vessels. The symptoms are the same as the clinical picture of ischemic stroke.

What examination methods does the doctor use?

The qualifications of a doctor are sometimes not enough to determine a diagnosis based on an initial examination. This is not due to a lack of knowledge.

Pathologies of cerebral vessels are quite difficult to identify because they have a similar clinical picture. Modern examination techniques, discussed in the table, come to the aid of the specialist.

Ultrasound process

Attention! Which doctor checks the vessels and what methods he uses depends on the nature of the lesions.

How to get rid of a serious illness?

In some cases, the specialist asks the patient to take a blood test to determine the lipid spectrum. The diagnostic methods used differ. The most optimal remedy is determined by the doctor, taking into account the patient’s well-being.

The price of such examinations varies significantly. Government institutions provide their patients with such services free of charge, while the cost of conducting such an examination in private clinics can vary significantly.

The main stages of the initial consultation with a neurologist

A medical appointment begins with an examination of the symptoms that bother the patient. Then the doctor conducts an external examination of the patient, during which he pays attention to the condition of the skull, the presence of tremors in the arms or body, and the symmetry of the shoulders and limbs.

After this, the specialist checks the patient’s reflexes (pupillary, skin, mucous membranes, tendon, periosteal), muscle-joint sensitivity, coordination of movements, and the ability to assess one’s spatial position. At this stage, the function of the cerebellum is also examined using the heel-knee and pointing test, and the nadiadochokinesis test.

Based on the results of physical diagnostics, the neurologist selects additional examinations for the patient. Their list may include:

• Doppler ultrasound;
• and MRI;
• angiography;
• rheoencephalography;
• electroencephalography.

Having made a final diagnosis, the doctor prescribes medications to the patient to help normalize blood pressure and improve blood flow in the brain. In advanced cases, the specialist refers the patient to surgery (angioplasty, carotid endarterectomy).

Problems with veins - who can help?

Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a problem that many women face, but in some cases it also affects the male sex.

The process of identifying varicose veins.

Experts say that the problem with the manifestation of the disease lies in the following factors:

• prolonged standing;
• deformation of vascular walls;
• malfunction of the vein valve;
• pathologies of the endocrine system;
• genetic predisposition.

Attention! If you have a pathology called varicose veins, you should contact a phlebologist.

Pathologies of the cardiovascular system are extremely dangerous.

Characteristic symptoms of vein damage are:

• “inflated” veins in the leg area;
• manifestation of swelling of the limbs, accompanied by pain;
• formation of a vascular network;
• heaviness and increased fatigue;
• feeling of fullness.

At the first manifestations of varicose veins, you should consult a specialist.

In the early stages of the disease, the doctor will determine a simple method of exposure based on:

• compliance with the regime;
• use of medicinal compounds;
• use of physiotherapy;
• physical activity;
• proper nutrition.

Such measures taken together will significantly speed up the healing process and will ensure the prevention of progression of varicose veins into a more complicated form - thrombophlebitis (see All about thrombophlebitis: some facts about the course of the disease and treatment).

To determine the nature of the lesion, the phlebologist uses the following methods:

• computed tomography - allows you to identify areas with thrombosis;
• Dopplerography of blood vessels - helps measure blood flow;
• blood test for clotting.

Attention! Varicose veins are more common in patients with high blood clotting rates.

Vein and Vascular Doctor

Often patients who have problems with veins or arteries do not know who to turn to. The vascular specialist depends on the location of the pathology and the nature of the lesion.

A therapist who has the patients’ medical records can help you choose the right doctor’s office. Most often, the veins of the lower extremities are affected.

A doctor who treats such diseases is called a phlebologist.

When should you apply?

When the first symptoms of a vascular system disorder appear, you should consult a doctor, as some diseases can be fatal.

Vascular diseases have different symptoms depending on their location. They can often be confused with diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, if discomfort in the limbs, dizziness or pain in the heart occurs, it is necessary to consult a therapist, who, having found out the clinical picture of the disease, will refer you for examination to a specialist.

Consultation with an angiologist

Depending on the characteristic symptoms, the doctor to whom you should contact is determined. If the arteries and lymphatic system are damaged, they consult a specialist called an angiologist. Such pathologies are manifested by the following symptoms:

You should visit an angiologist if you have pain in the limbs.

• decreased sensitivity of the skin of the extremities;
• tingling sensation in the affected areas;
• dysfunction of the joints of the arms and legs;
• pain in the affected limbs.

When will a phlebologist help?

This doctor specializes in diseases of the veins of the lower extremities. To make a final diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe an ultrasound and computed tomography scan of the affected area. With their help, he checks the condition of blood vessels and the presence of blood clots. The reasons to contact a phlebologist are the following signs:

• heaviness in the lower extremities with minor physical exertion;
• the appearance of swelling in the legs;
• a feeling of pain and burning in the area of ​​the affected vessels;
• cramps in the calf muscles, which most often occur at night;
• vascular network and protrusion of veins, visible to the naked eye.

What abnormalities does a neurologist treat?

A preliminary diagnosis of cerebral vascular damage is made by a therapist. A doctor who deals with detailed diagnosis and treatment of such pathologies is called a neurologist. His consultation is necessary if the following symptoms occur:

If a person notices pain in his neck, then he needs to see a neurologist.

• pain in the neck and head;
• noise and ringing in the ears;
• chronic fatigue;
• temporary loss of orientation;
• short-term loss of consciousness.

Indications for visiting a cardiologist

If vascular diseases are associated with disruption of the heart, then in such cases it is necessary to consult with this doctor. Early-stage heart disease may not cause severe symptoms.

Therefore, serious heart pathologies are often diagnosed at an advanced stage. It is recommended to undergo a routine examination by a cardiologist at least once a year to prevent the development of complications.

Examinations are especially important for patients with problems with high or low blood pressure. Consultation with a cardiologist is necessary if the following symptoms appear:

• heartache;
• the appearance of shortness of breath;
• excessive sweating.

In what cases will a surgeon help?

In case of serious vascular damage, surgical intervention becomes necessary. A doctor who specializes in such manipulations is called a vascular surgeon. This specialist can prescribe conservative treatment and determine the need for surgery. Depending on the location of the pathology, it is necessary to contact various doctors:

DoctorSpecialization

What treatment measures does the doctor prescribe?

Drug treatment is prescribed by a doctor who treats vascular diseases. Without its prescription, the use of drugs is contraindicated.

At the initial stage of vascular damage, conservative treatment is prescribed, aimed at eliminating such unpleasant symptoms as pain and a feeling of heaviness. For this purpose, medications are used to improve blood circulation and prevent the formation of blood clots and nodules.

If the veins of the extremities are affected, physiotherapy may be used. If the disease reaches an advanced form, then surgical intervention becomes necessary.

To prevent disruption of the circulatory system, it is necessary to lead an active lifestyle, give up bad habits and regularly undergo scheduled examinations.

Source: https://EtoVarikoz.ru/vas/doktor-po-venam-i-sosudam.html

“Matters of the heart” - who will help?

It should be noted that pathologies of the cardiovascular system are common and rank first in the world in terms of the annual number of deaths. This rating is scary, so patients should pay attention to the use of prophylactic agents to prevent the development of the disease.

Which doctor will help you get rid of your health problems?

The list of the most common ailments treated by a cardiologist includes:

• heart rhythm disturbances;
• heart defects;
• hypertonic disease;
• myocardial infarction;
• angina pectoris.

The patient should consult a specialist if the following symptoms of the disease are detected:

• shortness of breath;
• chest pain;
• lack of air;
• increased sweating;
• constant weakness.

If these symptoms are detected, you cannot hesitate - the patient must visit a doctor and undergo an ECG.

Only timely contact with a specialist will help prevent the development of complications.

Patients belonging to the following groups should undergo regular examinations:

• patients over 35 years of age;
• women planning pregnancy;
• patients with a genetic predisposition to the development of pathology;
• people who are overweight.

Annual medical examination is not a whim of doctors - it is a necessity to exclude the possibility of developing serious diseases of the heart vessels.

Which doctor should I contact for vascular problems?

As sad as it may be, dilated venous vessels in the legs, the inability to walk a hundred meters without pain, atherosclerosis leading to heart attacks and strokes, and other vascular pathologies are far from uncommon.

The negative factors surrounding our contemporary on all sides, constant stress, lack of time even to just get enough sleep, every year significantly increase the already multi-million army of those who suffer from such diseases.

In addition, there is another problem for which doctors around the world are sounding the alarm.

If in the recent past varicose veins and atherosclerosis were considered the lot of old people, today signs of these diseases are detected in people under thirty years of age.

In these cases, non-compliance with the daily routine, frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages, smoking, addiction to fast food and other foods rich in cholesterol and other “harmful” lipids can be added to the main causes of pathology.

When a person finally decides to consult a specialist about his problems, a natural question is: which doctor treats blood vessels, and who should he contact with his complaints? A local therapist is unlikely to be able to find out the source of the disorders, make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment, so you should contact a specialist: a neurologist, vascular surgeon, angiologist or phlebologist. We will talk further about which of these doctors helps in which situations.

Who deals with cerebral vessels?

If people of all ages often experience complaints of headaches, dizziness, constant fatigue, weakness, or fainting, you should consult a neurologist. Doctors of this profile deal with the following diseases:

• Migraines, nervous tics, inflammation of the trigeminal nerve and other disorders, one of the main symptoms of which is pain in various parts of the head.
• Cramps.
• Epilepsy.
• Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.
• Osteochondrosis.
• Traumatic brain and spinal injuries.
• Radiculitis.
• Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Depending on the type of affected vessel, the nature of the pathological changes, and the stage of the disease, doctors of different profiles treat vascular disorders. In order for a correct diagnosis to be made as soon as possible and a treatment regimen to be correctly drawn up, you should first contact a neurologist, who will then, if necessary, refer you to the right specialist.

During the appointment, the doctor collects as much information as possible to find out the cause of the deterioration in health.

To do this, he asks the patient to tell in detail about his complaints, asks about work pressure, the presence of chronic diseases, and asks a number of other questions.

The neurologist examines the patient, sends him for diagnostic examinations and subsequently, having familiarized himself with their results, makes a diagnosis and prescribes a course of treatment.

So, you need to contact a neurologist if you experience the following symptoms:

• Frequent and prolonged headaches similar to migraines.
• Feeling of heaviness in the head.
• The appearance of ringing in the ears.
• Nausea with retching.
• Coordination problems.
• Numbness of arms and legs.
• Problems with short-term memory.
• Fogginess of consciousness, up to its complete loss.
• Back pain.

Who to contact for varicose veins?

Almost every elderly person’s feet are dotted with a network of venous veins, and on the legs and thighs dilated and thickened areas of larger veins are clearly visible. All these are manifestations of common varicose veins, phlebitis, thrombosis and thrombophlebitis. Pathologies of venous vessels are dealt with by a phlebologist, who is consulted with the following complaints:

• Protruding areas of dilated and thickened veins.
• Swelling of the legs.
• Pain when walking and at rest.
• The appearance of a subcutaneous vascular network of a violet hue.
• Calf cramps, which occur especially often during night sleep.
• Rapid fatigue of the legs during physical activity.

If you have such signs, you should not put off visiting a doctor, because the pathology is characterized by rapid progression and the occurrence of serious complications. As a result of varicose veins, the venous walls become inflamed, and microcracks form in their inner layer, which contribute to the formation of blood clots. In addition, the more advanced the disease, the more difficult, longer and more expensive its treatment.

In addition to the vessels of the legs, veins of the rectum (hemorrhoids), genitourinary organs, and esophagus are susceptible to varicose veins. It is especially difficult to diagnose varicose veins of the small pelvis, which are more common in women under forty-five years of age. Patients complain of the following painful manifestations:

• Lower abdominal pain.
• Menstrual pain.
• Vaginal discharge.
• Impaired urination.
• Pain during gynecological examination.
• Dilation of veins located in the area of ​​the buttocks, thighs and perineum.

Almost all of these symptoms are similar to manifestations of gynecological diseases, so even an experienced vascular doctor will not always admit the possibility of varicose veins.

At the appointment, the doctor should ask the patient in detail about the nature of his activities, work pressures, family relationships, and hereditary predisposition to any pathologies. Then the specialist conducts an initial examination, studies the patient’s medical history, and refers him for additional examinations.

Which doctors deal with atherosclerosis problems?

Atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels are found in almost every person over fifty years of age.

The initial stages of this disorder, as a rule, are asymptomatic, and the pathology is detected only after the occurrence of severe complications, such as myocardial infarction, various types of strokes, and heart failure.

The sooner a patient seeks medical help, the greater the chance of stopping the progression of the disorder, avoiding serious consequences and maintaining health for many years.

Atherosclerosis and other pathologies of arterial and lymphatic vessels are dealt with by an angiologist or vascular surgeon. Consultation with this specialist is required for the following complaints:

• Numbness of arms and legs.
• Tingling in the limbs.
• Constant freezing of extremities, even when it is warm outside.
• Soreness and enlargement of lymph nodes.

Doctors of this profile not only provide drug treatment for arterial pathologies. They also engage in restoration of the functions of internal organs impaired as a result of circulatory disorders, microsurgery and vascular transplantation.

What other doctors deal with blood vessels?

Considering that all internal organs and systems depend on the circulatory system, doctors in the following areas encounter vascular pathologies:

• A cardiologist is a specialist who deals with cardiac pathologies. You should contact this doctor if you experience heart pain, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, tremors, and sweating.
• Rheumatologist - specializes in systemic diseases, one of the symptoms of which is vasculitis (an inflammatory process in the wall of a vessel).
• Immunologist - many vascular pathologies and blood diseases are of an autoimmune nature, when immune cells begin to react to the tissues of their own body as foreign.
• Infectious disease specialist - there are a number of vascular diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms and viruses.

Source: https://lechimsosudy.com/k-kakomu-vrachu-obrashhatsya-s-problemami-sosudov/