What is vascular disease?

Vascular disease is a medical condition that affects the blood vessels, notes UAB Medicine. There are several kinds of vascular disease, and they affect veins, arteries, lymph vessels and capillaries.

According to UAB Medicine, vascular disease is capable of narrowing, hardening or blocking arteries and otherwise decreasing the amount of blood and oxygen that moves through the body. WebMD lists peripheral artery disease as one of the most common vascular diseases in the United States. It occurs when blood vessels outside of the heart experience a buildup of fat deposits that block blood flow. Other common vascular diseases include an aneurysm, renal artery disease and varicose veins.