Recognizing the Signs of Vasculitis

Vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels, is also known as angiitis and arteritis. If you have this condition, the walls of your blood vessels can become thickened, narrowed, or weakened. If your blood flow is seriously restricted, you could experience serious health consequences including organ damage.

Vasculitis can be rare and comes in several varieties, such as Kawasaki disease. Vasculitis can attack you once or become a chronic health concern. Some populations have a higher risk of vasculitis than others. To control your vasculitis symptoms, you may need professional support and medication.

Our care team at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center, led by board-certified rheumatologist Iraj Sabahi, MD, can correctly diagnose your vasculitis. Once you know the reasons for your symptoms, you can work with our experienced staff to put together a care plan to handle your outbreaks or chronic vasculitis. 

Inflammation in your blood vessels

While the exact cause of vasculitis is still unknown, the condition appears to relate to your immune system, causing your body to attack its own blood vessel cells. Vasculitis may be related to

• Genetic factors
• Drug reactions
• Blood cancers
• Hepatitis B and hepatitis C
• Other infections
• Immune system diseases like lupus

Smoking tobacco also increases your risk of vasculitis, potentially damaging your body’s access to a steady supply of blood.

The risks of decreased blood flow

Left untreated, vasculitis can sometimes become a serious health concern, due to the importance of sufficient blood flow for your body's health and wellness. Many of the symptoms of vasculitis occur due to decreased blood flow.

Without a ready supply of fresh, oxygenated blood, your organs and tissues lack the essential nutrients they need to maintain your vital functions. Severe vasculitis can result in major organ damage, aneurysms or blood clots, or serious infections.

Signs and symptoms to watch out for

Vasculitis comes with a range of potential symptoms. Some symptoms appear in most types of vasculitis, while others are unique to a specific vasculitis diagnosis.

In general, if you're concerned about vasculitis, you should watch out for:

• Fever or rash
• Nerve issues like unexplained numbness or weakness
• Aches and pains around your body, or headaches
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Night sweats

Some symptoms also signal unique forms of vasculitis. These can vary widely, from pain and inflammation to ulcers or lesions to lung-related symptoms like asthma. The experts at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center can use any additional symptoms to accurately diagnose your condition.

If you suspect you may have vasculitis, keep track of any unusual physical or experiential changes, and get in touch with the team at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center.

Prompt treatment is essential to treating some potentially dangerous types of vasculitis, so don't delay if you have concerning symptoms. You can schedule an appointment with a member of our care team by contacting our Pleasanton, CA, or Turlock, CA office today.