Early Signs of Vascular Disease You Shouldn’t Ignore

It’s scary to think that you might not realize you have a serious health condition. Vascular disease is a serious condition, but you may overlook or dismiss the symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment can help to prevent further damage, improve blood flow, and enhance overall vascular health. On the other hand, missing the early signs of vascular disease can lead to damage that can impact the quality of your life, and in extreme cases, lead to death.

What is vascular disease?

Vascular disease includes any condition that affects your circulatory system – your system of blood and lymph vessels. Vascular disease includes diseases of your arteries, veins and lymph vessels, and blood disorders that affect circulation.

What makes up the circulatory system?

The circulatory system (also called the vascular system) is made up of the vessels that carry blood and lymph fluid through the body.

Blood vessels include:

• Arteries that carry oxygenated blood away from your heart.
• Veins that return blood to your heart.
• Capillaries, the tiniest blood vessels, that link your small veins and arteries, deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and take away their waste.

Additionally, your lymph vessels carry lymphatic fluid, a clear colorless fluid made of water and blood cells. The lymphatic system helps rid the body of toxins and waste by filtering and draining lymph away from each region of the body.

Types of vascular diseases.

To understand the importance of noticing early signs of vascular disease, it’s important to understand the types of vascular diseases.

Some vascular diseases affect your arteries, while others occur in your veins. Additionally, some vascular diseases only impact specific body parts.

Below are the different types of vascular disease.

Peripheral artery disease.

Peripheral arteries (blood vessels outside your heart) can develop atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque (fat and cholesterol deposits). Unfortunately, over time, the buildup narrows the artery which causes less blood to flow. This can lead to ischemia, or inadequate blood flow to your body’s tissue.

Types of peripheral arterial disease include:

• Peripheral artery disease.
• Intestinal ischemic syndrome.
• Renal artery disease.
• Buerger’s Disease.

Carotid artery issues.

The following issues occur the two main carotid arteries in your neck, including the following carotid artery issues:

• Carotid artery disease.
• Dissection (a tear).
• Tumors.
• Aneurysm.

Venous disease.

If the valves (flaps) inside your veins become damaged, the valves may not close completely, allowing blood to flow in both directions. This can cause pooling of blood or swelling in your veins. Importantly, with venous disease, the blood begins to move more slowly through your veins and may stick to the sides of your vessel walls. Critically, dangerous blood clots can form (see below).

Venous diseases include:

• Varicose veins.
• Spider veins.
• May-Thurner syndrome (MTS).
• Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).
• Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

Blood clots.

A clot forms when clotting factors in your blood make it coagulate (become a solid, jelly-like mass). When a blood clot forms inside a blood vessel, it can come loose and travel through your bloodstream, causing a deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attack or stroke.

Critically, blood clots in your arteries can increase the risk for stroke, heart attack, severe leg pain, difficulty walking, the loss of a limb, or even death.

Aortic aneurysm.

An aneurysm – an abnormal bulge in a blood vessel wall – can form in any blood vessel, but they occur most commonly in the aorta (aortic aneurysm) which is the main blood vessel leaving the heart.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD).

FMD is a rare medical condition in which people have abnormal cellular growth in the walls of the medium and large arteries. This can cause issues with the arteries, including aneurysms and dissection.

Lymphedema.

The lymphatic system helps coordinate your immune system’s function to protect your body from foreign substances. Lymphedema, an abnormal buildup of fluid, occurs when lymph vessels or lymph nodes are missing, impaired, damaged or removed.

Vasculitis.

Vasculitis occurs when blood vessels become inflamed because of a medicine, an infection or an unknown cause. This can make it hard for blood to travel through your blood vessels and can cause an aneurysm.

What causes vascular disease?

Unfortunately, for some vascular problems, the cause isn’t known. However, your risk of developing vascular problems increases if you:

• Are over 55 years old.
• Have a family history of vascular diseases.
• Smoke or use other tobacco products.
• Have the following medical conditions:
  • High blood pressure.
  • High cholesterol.
  • Diabetes.
  • Obesity.
• Have a sedentary lifestyle.

Additionally, other known causes, include:

• Certain medications.
• Injury.
• Infection.
• Blood clots.

Early signs of vascular disease you should never ignore.

Importantly, vascular disease can present in a variety of ways, depending on which blood vessels are affected. Additionally, vascular diseases often progress silently, so even mild symptoms should not be ignored. In fact, some vascular diseases can be life threatening, so don’t ignore the signs!

Alarmingly, many people don’t realize they have a problem until it’s severe. But for all vascular diseases, finding it early helps minimize damage. On the other hand, if circulatory issues are not treated, you may develop more severe vascular problems over time.

Therefore, you should never ignore the following signs.

1. Leg pain or cramping during walking.

Leg pain or cramping is one of the most common symptoms of poor vascular health, especially when walking or exercising. This condition, called claudication, occurs when the arteries in your legs are narrowed or blocked, limiting blood flow to your muscles.

Generally, pain subsides when you rest but returns when you resume physical activities. However, it’s important to note that as peripheral artery disease becomes more severe, you may also notice pain while lying down.

Notably, pain is often in the calf, but you may also feel it in your buttocks, thigh, or foot.

Signs of claudication include:

• Aching, burning, or tiredness in the legs or feet.
• Pain that worsens when walking or climbing stairs.
• Reduction in pain when resting.

2. Numbness or weakness in limbs.

Experiencing ongoing numbness or weakness in your limbs can indicate restriction of your arteries. This occurs when blood flow is restricted to certain areas of the body, making it difficult for your muscles to function normally.

Importantly, if your numbness appears suddenly, combined with drooping face and/or jumbled words, you may be experiencing a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Seek immediate medical help.

Potential signs of vascular issues include:

• Tingling or “pins and needles” in your arms or legs.
• Limbs that feel weak or heavy.
• Difficulty walking.
• Trouble gripping objects.

3. Cold or discolored hands or feet.

Poor circulation can cause cold or discolored fingers and toes. When blood flow is restricted, your extremities may not get enough warm blood to keep them at a normal temperature. In severe cases, your fingers or toes may turn pale or blue.

Look for these signs:

• Cold hands or feet, even in warm conditions.
• Skin that appears blue or purple.
• Pale skin on your legs, feet, or toes.

4. Change in skin appearance. 

Visible changes in your skin appearance can be important indicators of poor blood flow, venous insufficiency, or other vascular disorders. For instance, with chronic venous insufficiency (when the veins in your legs can no longer properly move blood back to the heart) the skin on your lower legs may change.

Watch out for these signs:

• Itchy, irritated rash that typically affects the shins and ankles.
• Skin that appears reddish on lighter skin tones, or brown, purple, or grayish on darker skin tones.
• Dry, scaly, or thickened patches.
• Persistent itching or tenderness.
• Reddish-brown or dark brown skin, which typically begins around the inner ankle. As it spreads, it can appear almost black in color.

Additionally, watch out for these signs, usually on the legs:

• Redness, scaliness, and itching.
• Pale skin and/or ulcers.
• Light brown, scaly patches.
• Reddish-blue net-like pattern.

5. Slow-healing wounds.

Importantly, wounds that do not heal, or heal slower than expected, can indicate poor vascular health. With limited blood flow, it can be harder for your body to heal cuts, scrapes, or other injuries. Unfortunately, people with diabetes often have wounds that do not heal properly.

Watch out for these signs:

• Ulcers or sores on the feet or legs.
• Cuts that do not heal in the expected timeframe.
• Wounds that become infected easily.

6. Swelling in legs or ankles.

Swelling in the legs or feet (edema) can indicate poor circulation or a blood clot. This swelling occurs when blood doesn’t move efficiently through the veins and begins to pool in the lower part of your body.

Signs of venous insufficiency include:

• Swollen ankles or feet, especially after standing or sitting for long periods.
• Tight, shiny skin on the legs.
• Skin that feels warm or tender to the touch.

7. Dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain. 

Dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain and/or other symptoms can indicate more serious conditions like carotid artery disease or peripheral artery disease.

Watch for these signs:

• Chest pain.
• Shortness of breath.
• Dizziness.
• Fainting spells.
• Vision issues.
• Speech problems.
• Pain in the face, neck, or eyes.
• Headaches.
• Heart palpitations – fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart.
• Swelling in the neck
• Trouble swallowing
• Abdominal or back pain
• Nausea and/or vomiting.

Importantly, some of these signs indicate very serious health conditions that require immediate medical attention. If you or your loved one experiences these symptoms, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

8. Varicose veins.

Often a sign of poor vascular health, bulging veins (called varicose veins) are large, twisted veins that usually appear in the legs. Importantly, varicose veins indicate that blood is pooling in the veins rather than flowing smoothly back to the heart. While varicose veins are often harmless, they can also be a sign of a more serious condition called chronic venous insufficiency.

Signs of varicose veins include:

• Bulging, twisted veins in the legs
• Aching or discomfort around the veins
• Itching or burning sensation in the skin near the veins

Early signs of vascular disease are easy to overlook.

Unfortunately, each of the above symptoms can be credibly explained by something unrelated to vascular health, which can make it hard to know if you are experiencing signs of a vascular disease. You might think your leg cramps came from overdoing it in the gym. Or you may assume your swollen ankles are from too much sitting. Similarly, you may think your feet and hands are cold because your house is draughty. But these symptoms might be a sign of a vascular disease that needs medical attention.

Early signs of vascular disease: When to see a doctor.

If you consistently experience any of the symptoms listed above, it’s a good idea to speak with your primary care doctor who may order diagnostic testing. In some cases, you may need to see a vascular surgeon who can conduct a more thorough evaluation.

Critically, if you experience signs of a stroke or TIA, seek medical help immediately! TIA and stroke symptoms happen suddenly and may include:

• Weakness, numbness or paralysis in the face, arm or leg, typically on one side of the body.
• Slurred speech or trouble understanding others.
• Blindness in one or both eyes or double vision.
• Dizziness or loss of balance or coordination.

For more information, read What You Need to Know About Strokes.

Prevention and lifestyle tips. 

Although you cannot control all risk factors (such as your age or DNA), there are some things you can do to lower your risk of many vascular diseases.

Quit smoking.

Importantly, smoking can cause heart attacks, stroke, and types of vascular disease.  Nicotine increases your heart rate by 20 beats per minute with every cigarette. Additionally, it raises blood pressure and makes arteries all over the body become smaller. Critically, these changes make it harder for your heart to pump blood through your arteries. Furthermore, smoking causes your body to release its stores of fat and cholesterol into the blood.

Specifically, smoking increases your risk of life-threatening vascular diseases such as peripheral artery disease (PAD), abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), and carotid artery disease (CAD). Although it can be difficult, quitting smoking can provide immediate and long-term benefits to your cardiovascular system and for your overall health.

Other steps to reduce your risk.

Consider taking these steps to reduce your risk:

• Eat a healthy diet:
  • Avoid saturated fat.
  • Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
  • Limit your intake of salt and sugar.
• Keep your cholesterol levels in a normal range.
• Limit alcohol use.
• Get regular exercise.
• Aim for enough quality sleep.
• Work on lowering your stress levels.
• Get recommended health screenings, including for blood pressure and cholesterol.
• If you have Type 2 diabetes, work with your doctor to properly manage your condition.

Additionally, ask your doctor if compression socks would help you.

It’s not always easy to live a healthy lifestyle.

We all know how hard it can be to live a healthy lifestyle. Eating right, exercising regularly, reducing stress and getting enough sleep can feel impossible. And quitting smoking is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome.

However, if you have a vascular disease, or a family history of vascular disease, overcoming the challenges of living a healthy lifestyle is worth the effort. But, you don’t have to do it alone. Firstly, ask your doctor for guidance. Additionally, look for support from a mental health professional, your friends and family, and/or a support group.

Learn more.

Importantly, knowing the early signs of vascular disease can help you get timely care that can improve your chances of a positive outcome. Read these posts for more helpful tips:

• Tips for Recovering from a Stroke.
• Questions For Your Cardiologist: What Heart Patients Should Ask.
• Supporting a Family Member with Heart Disease.

I wrote this post in collaboration with Aashi, a health and wellness expert who channels her passion for writing into insightful articles for PVC Doc. With over three years of experience in healthcare and wellness, she enjoys helping others understand complex health topics and make informed decisions about their well-being.