What is vascular medicine or angiology?
Vascular medicine or angiology is the medical specialty concerned with the functioning and diseases of the lymphatic and circulatory systems, which include veins, arteries and small blood vessels (microcirculation).
A vascular specialist is also sometimes referred to as an angiologist. As the circulatory system connects all organs, vascular medicine lies at the crossroads of many other fields , including:
- Vascular surgery
- Interventional radiology
- Internal medicine
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Dermatology
- Nephrology and diabetology.
What does an angiologist do?
The angiologist treats diseases associated with:
- The arteries (arteriopathy, aneurysms, genetic diseases, vasculitis)
- The veins (varicose veins, phlebitis, pulmonary embolism, thrombophilia, venous malformations)
- Microcirculation (Raynaud’s phenomenon, cholesterol embolism)
- Lymphatics (lymphedema, malformations), etc.
When to see an angiologist
Certain signs may suggest a circulatory problem:
- Heavy and/or swollen legs
- Sore limbs
- Shortness of breath
- Blue hands or feet, etc.
The patient is advised to see their GP who may seek the expert opinion of an angiologist.
How to choose an angiologist?
Angiology is a highly technical specialty and requires access to state-of-the-art equipment, particularly in imaging. The patient should therefore seek the advice of their GP or pharmacist to ensure the angiologist has the correct means at their disposal.