Diseases and Conditions
Small vessel disease
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Complications
Prevention
Diagnosis
Treatment
Lifestyle and home remedies
Alternative medicine
Preparing for an appointment
Risk factors
Small vessel disease is more common in women than in men. Risk factors for small vessel disease include:
- Body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (obesity)
- Diabetes
- Family history of the disease, especially in women
- High blood pressure
- Inactive lifestyle
- Increasing age: older than 45 in men and older than 55 in women
- Insulin resistance
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Tobacco use
- Unhealthy cholesterol levels
- Unhealthy diet