Peripheral vascular disease
Leg pain is not a normal part of aging
Milind Dhond, M.D., F.A.C.C.
PVD is a condition that causes poor leg circulation, cramping, fatigue and pain in the calves, thighs and buttocks when you walk. These symptoms are called “intermittent claudication,” because the pain stops when you rest. Pain develops when there is a narrowing or blockage of the main artery taking blood to the leg. When blood flow is reduced, muscles don’t receive the oxygen they need, causing pain and cramping as you walk. The pain can be in one leg or both.
PVD is a buildup of plaque in arteries outside the heart, including those in the legs, kidneys and other organ systems. It is also used to describe peripheral venous disease. The most common cause of PVD is atherosclerosis, which is often called “hardening of the arteries.”
While mild cases of PVD may have no symptoms at all, when the disease becomes severe it can lead to permanent numbness or weakness in the legs and feet, and possibly even limb loss. People with PVD are also at a higher risk of developing a heart attack or stroke.
Symptoms of PVD include:
• Leg or hip pain while walking
• Burning or aching pain in feet or toes when resting
• Cold legs or feet
• A sore on leg or foot that won’t heal
• Color change in the skin of legs or feet
• Loss of hair on legs
• Leg or foot pain that stops when you rest
Many people dismiss these symptoms as a normal part of aging and don’t seek medical help. It’s estimated that only 50 percent of people with PVD are receiving medical treatment. Fortunately, safe and simple non-invasive tests are now available to diagnose PVD.
These tests include Doppler ultrasound, a technique that creates pictures using sound waves to determine the condition of the arteries, and angiography, an X-ray exam of the arteries and veins to diagnose blockages.
In many cases when PVD is diagnosed, interventional treatments are used to open blocked or narrowed blood vessels without surgery. In fact, for most cases, hospitalization and general anesthesia are not required.
The best way to prevent peripheral vascular disease is to follow the same healthy lifestyle formula that helps you avoid other illnesses. Although you cannot change the genetic factors that cause diabetes and affect your cholesterol, you can reduce your risk factors in other ways. Eat a nutritious, low-fat diet, maintain a healthy weight and engage in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day. Control high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and if you smoke, make an effort to quit.
If you have unexplained pain in your legs when you walk, be sure to discuss your symptoms with your physician.
Milind Dhond, M.D., F.A.C.C., is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular medicine. He is the medical director for Interventional Vascular Services at NorthBay Medical Center and is affiliated with the NorthBay Heart and Vascular Center. His practice is located in Fairfield.
The Solano Coalition for Better Health is a countywide nonprofit organization comprised of health care providers, county health services, educational institutions, and community organizations. Since its inception in 1988, the Coalition has developed successful programs through partnerships that have improved the health of county residents.
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