The narrowing of your arteries can reduce blood flow to your legs, causing complications in them, such as numbness and pain when walking. This can be due to fatty deposits buildups on the inner walls of the arteries. Though the condition is common, the symptoms can significantly distract your life’s quality and hence the need to catch it early. The expertise team at Desert West Vein & Surgery Center can help you diagnose peripheral artery disease in El Paso to discuss treatment options and help you minimize your risks. There are several ways you can identify the complication, as outlined below.
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Consider Non-Healing Foot Injuries
When you are suffering from peripheral artery disease, blood flow to your limbs will be limited. It may take injuries to your feet longer to heal. Therefore, pay attention and be suspicious of those cuts or lacerations that won’t heal or take too long. If you note that the tissues on your feet have become gangrene or are dying, it is due to lack of blood flow, and it may indicate that your PAD is in an advanced stage.
Be Suspicious to Limb Pain and Numbness
Several factors can contribute to pain and numbness in your legs. Peripheral artery disease can also cause these symptoms, and you may feel accelerated pain with walking. Therefore, do not assume such pain as a normal part of aging as it could be a sign of PAD. Remember that muscles in action will require adequate blood flow than when at rest. Therefore, if you experience pain and/or muscle cramping while walking, climbing stairs, or exercising, PAD is more likely to be the cause meaning there is insufficient blood flow.
Get Expert Diagnosis
If you suspect pain and numbness in your legs or any other symptoms, you can contact your doctor for a diagnosis. Your provider will carry out a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms, including how long they have been there, to help you identify the cause. Ensure you provide accurate information to your provider for accurate diagnosis of peripheral artery disease.
Evaluate Your Risk Factors
Knowing the potential risk factors that increase your chances of developing PAD can help you be clear about some of the symptoms you are experiencing. You can consult your doctor to understand your particular factors, including age, smoking, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.
Watch for Other Symptoms
PAD can cause a variety of other symptoms besides pain and infections that won’t heal. You may notice color changes in your legs, slow hair growth, shiny patches of skin on your legs, weak pulse on your leg, and slow toenail growth. Your legs might also feel weak, cold, or numb. If you are male you can experience erectile dysfunction as a symptom.
Agree to Tests
If you suspect symptoms of peripheral artery disease, your provider may recommend several tests to confirm the diagnosis. They might recommend an ankle-brachial index test to compare the blood pressure on your foot to that on your arm. They might also do image testing to confirm the findings of the ankle-brachial test. This might include a CT scan, Ultrasound, or an MRA scan.
Get your peripheral artery disease diagnosis today by reaching out to the Desert West Vein & Surgery Center providers. Remember that the condition can cause severe complications if left untreated. Therefore, the earlier you catch it, the better.
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