Arterial Disease What it is
Symptoms
When blood flow to the arteries in your legs and feet is blocked by plaque (fatty buildup), your legs and feet have trouble getting the oxygen and nutrients they need. This is called arterial disease.
“Intermittent claudication” is the most common symptom. This is when you feel a pain, ache, cramp or tired feeling in your calf, foot, thigh, hip or buttocks while walking or doing exercise. These feelings usually go away quickly when you stop your activity, but come back if you start again.
artery too narrow fatty buildup blood flow
As the disease gets worse, you will feel the same pain with shorter periods of activity. Over time, these feelings may occur when you’re resting as well. Your legs and feet may also:
Risk factors These things increase your chance of having arterial disease.
• feel numb • have no pulse at all or only a faint pulse • have dry scaly skin and poor hair and nail growth
if you have:
• feel cool to the touch
q diabetes q high blood pressure
• develop ulcers (wounds) that heal slowly
q high cholesterol
• get smaller due to your muscles shrinking from lack of use
• hurt if you sit with them propped up
if you are: q an older adult q overweight q a smoker or use other tobacco products q eating or drinking caffeine products (like coffee, soft drinks, tea and chocolate)
• have a reddish-blue color when your feet hang down or a pale color when you sit with them raised
• have shiny, tight-feeling skin
q not getting enough exercise Copyright © 2000-2015 Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. DO NOT DUPLICATE.
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