Some forms of cardiovascular disease progress silently and without warning, but a circulation problem known as peripheral vascular disease is a little different. Since it affects your blood vessels, it comes with a few telltale signs and symptoms.
“Some vascular diseases are silent, until they’re not,” says Gina Cavallo, MD, a vascular surgeon at Atlantic Health System. “But with peripheral vascular disease, you will likely have some early warning signs.”
She explains that peripheral vascular disease can progress slowly over time by narrowing or blocking arteries. This restricted blood flow causes poor circulation, which is often first noticeable in the legs and feet.
Signs of poor circulation
1. Leg pain when walking such as burning, cramping, or numbness in your thighs or calves. When you rest for a few minutes, the pain goes away. This happens because your muscles aren't receiving enough oxygen-rich blood during exercise.
2. Leg pain at rest such as burning, cramping, or numbness when you’re laying down. You can alleviate the pain by walking around for a few minutes, or by dangling your feet off the bed. Rest pain is a more serious sign of poor circulation, and may indicate advanced peripheral artery disease.
3. A non-healing wound on the feet that doesn’t improve within a couple of weeks or seems to worsen over time.
4. Hair loss on the lower legs in adult men or skin changes that become darker, textured, or discolored.
5. Swollen legs and feet that also experience fatigue at the end of the day. Edema, or fluid accumulation in the legs and feet, can result from poor circulation. This swelling often worsens throughout the day, leading to a feeling of heaviness and fatigue in the affected limbs.
Preventing a vascular emergency
Dr. Cavallo explains that vascular disease mainly impacts lifelong smokers, people with diabetes, and renal failure patients. When peripheral vascular disease is detected early in these patients, doctors can manage their symptoms and prevent a life-threatening emergency.
But this is not always the case for other serious vascular issues such as aortic aneurysm and carotid artery stenosis, which can have no warning signs at all.
“Some vascular diseases are completely asymptomatic until they become a serious problem,” says Dr. Cavallo. “If you’re living with an undiagnosed vascular disease like aneurysmal disease or carotid artery disease, it can lead to stroke, limb loss, or even death.”
She implores anyone who is a lifelong smoker or has a family history of vascular disease to get screened. “It is the only way to prevent these diseases from progressing,” she says.
How to get tested
Your primary care doctor can refer you for a screening to better understand your risk of vascular disease.
“The goal of paying attention to symptoms of peripheral vascular disease or getting screened for aortic aneurysm and carotid artery stenosis is all about prevention,” says Dr. Cavallo.
She encourages patients to advocate for themselves in the doctor’s office. “Tell your doctor you want to have this checked because of a smoking history or a family history. At the very least, you're opening a very important conversation.”
Be proactive about your health
Staying up to date on annual wellness exams and screenings is important. So too, are the occasional trips to specialists to address sleep issues or any other health concerns that are nagging you.
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