Symptoms of peripheral vascular disease Intermittent pain (claudication), which may feel like cramps, muscle fatigue or heaviness (usually in the legs) Worsening pain during exercise (usually in the legs) Easing of pain during rest (usually in the legs) Coldness of the affected body part.
If you doctor suspects vascular disease, he or she may order non-invasive vascular testing. These are simple and painless tests using ultrasound to determine the presence, location, and severity of vascular disease.
The most common vascular diseases include peripheral artery disease (PAD) and carotid artery disease.
Other risk factors
age – CVD is most common in people over 50 and your risk of developing it increases as you get older. gender – men are more likely to develop CVD at an earlier age than women. diet – an unhealthy diet can lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Coldness in legs, numbness of legs, tingling of legs, tingling when walking. Venous symptoms - These are symptoms that show the patient may have a venous issue. Restless legs, restless legs at night, visible varicose veins, leg swelling, feet swelling, and leg pain during exertion.
Vascular pain is pain that is caused as a result of interruption of blood flow to a tissue or muscles. If you are experiencing lack of circulation, pain, or heaviness in certain areas, you might be having vascular pain. There also may be numbness, weakness, or a tingling feeling in the affected area.
You can often treat vascular disease with lifestyle changes, such as: A healthy diet to help lower your blood sugar or cholesterol. Exercise. Quitting tobacco.
Walking is especially good for you
Several randomized clinical trials have shown that walking can make a real difference for people with peripheral artery disease, says Emile R. Mohler, III, MD, late Director of Vascular Medicine at Penn Medicine.
Although blood tests can catch potential health risks that could lead to PAD, they cannot diagnose vascular conditions by themselves. There is not a specific blood test for peripheral artery disease; however, cholesterol screenings and high blood sugar tests can help doctors predict if you are at an increased risk.
If peripheral vascular disease goes untreated, there is a chance that it may progress into critical limb ischemia, a severe stage of PVD that can result in the loss of an affected limb. But if caught in its early stages, peripheral vascular disease is a treatable and reversible disease.
Vascular pain often feels like an uncomfortable heaviness or throbbing sensation. It can also feel like an aching sensation. It usually affects your legs and can be worse with walking or exerting yourself.
Eyes – some types of vasculitis can suddenly affect your vision or cause your eye/s to become red or painful. It's very important to see a doctor quickly if this happens. Nerves – inflammation of the nerves can cause tingling (pins and needles), pain and burning sensations or weakness in the arms and legs.
Symptoms of poor circulation are often easy to spot. They include muscle cramping, constant foot pain, and pain and throbbing in the arms and legs. As well as fatigue, varicose veins, and digestive issues. Leg cramps while walking and wounds that don't seem to heal in your legs, feet, and toes are also symptoms.
Poor circulation most often requires a cardiologist for accurate diagnosis and treatment, and it is not easy to treat poor circulation without the assistance of a cardiologist. Therefore, it is important to see a cardiologist anytime multiple symptoms of poor circulation are present.
Eating a healthy diet and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol are lifestyle changes that can improve PAD symptoms, along with regular exercise (particularly walking) and smoking cessation. People with PAD often don't get enough blood flowing to their leg muscles, resulting in leg pain during exercise.
However, the most common cause of vascular disease is atherosclerosis, which happens when a buildup of a fatty substance called plaque inside the arteries causes them to narrow, slowing or blocking the flow of blood.
Exercise, hot weather, sun exposure, and tight clothing can make your veins more noticeable. Aging, genetics, and being overweight may also increase their definition. Diseases that affect the vein are more serious. This includes blood clots and deep vein thrombosis.
Leg numbness or weakness. No pulse or a weak pulse in the legs or feet. Painful cramping in one or both of the hips, thighs or calf muscles after certain activities, such as walking or climbing stairs. Shiny skin on the legs.
The test: Turn your palms upwards in front of you and stretch out your fingers, almost as if you're reaching for something just out of touch. If the creases in your palm are pale, regardless of skin tone, this may mean you're suffering from poor circulation in your blood vessels due to low iron levels.
A simple, painless and noninvasive test called a duplex ultrasound can determine if you have bad circulation and the severity of the condition. Based on the severity of your condition, a vascular specialist doctor will determine the best treatment option for you.
Cardiologists: focus on treating vascular diseases of the heart, although some of them also treat peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Neurologists: treat vascular disease that affects the brain. Nephrologists: treat vascular disease that affects the kidneys.