By Dianne Gebhardt-French
SmartHealth Today
Leg pain while walking or resting may be caused by blockages in blood vessels and should be discussed with your doctor.
The pain, sometimes accompanied by cramps, may be a sign of peripheral arterial disease, known as PAD.
Blockages decrease the blood flow to your legs, and blockages range from very mild to severe and are a result of plaque buildup resulting from smoking, diabetes, diet, genetics, or age.
In the very early stages of PAD, there may not be any symptoms. But, as the disease progresses, patients may experience fatigue, heaviness, or leg cramps while walking.
Climbing stairs, walking fast, or walking while carrying a heavy object, can increase the symptoms. Sitting or standing in place may offer relief. But, as the blockage worsens, the distance you may be able to walk without having to rest will decrease.
Patients may have pain or cramping in the feet/legs even while resting at night. In the most severe cases, patients may experience numbness or pain, discoloration of the toes or feet, or wounds that will not heal.
The first step to treating PAD is diagnosing it with a thorough health history and physical exam.
An ultrasound can define the extent and location of the blockages. Depending on the blood vessels involved, treatment can include an angiogram (opening the blockage using a balloon), a stent to support the vessel wall or a bypass.
The best treatment must be tailored to the individual, since every person’s arteries and blockages are unique.
What you should know about PAD, according to the National Institutes of Health:
- 1 in every 20 Americans over 50 is affected.
- It puts patients at risk of heart attack or stroke.
- Symptoms are sometimes dismissed as “part of aging.”
- Treatment can help retain mobility.
- Risks increase after age 50.
- It can affect arteries that carry blood to the head, arms, kidneys and stomach.
The St. Elizabeth Healthcare Cardiovascular Mobile Health Unit also conducts PAD screenings.
SmartHealthToday is a service of St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
