2
4
5
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Circulatory system
Circulatory system

Vascular spasm
Definition:
A vascular spasm is a sudden, brief tightening of a blood vessel. Vascular spasms can temporarily reduce blood flow to tissues supplied by that vessel.

Symptoms:

The most common symptom is pain. Other symptoms are caused by lack of proper circulation and vary depending on the specific organ affected:

  • When the spasm affects circulation in a limb, there may be pallor and a sensation of cold in that arm or leg. Limb function and movement will be impaired.
  • When the spasm affects circulation in the heart, there may be symptoms similar to a heart attack and irregular heartbeats.
Signs and tests:

These vary depending on the affected organ.
Treatment:
Symptoms can sometimes be relieved by the use of medications that help relax the blood vessels.
Review Date: 12/23/2002
Reviewed By: Elena Sgarbossa, M.D., Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
adam.com