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Vascular disease affects blood vessels carrying blood to extremities, causing symptoms such as pain, skin discoloration, swelling, numbness, and varicose veins. It is often asymptomatic in early stages but can lead to gangrene if left untreated. It can also cause chest pain, arm pain, and tissue damage.
The symptoms of vascular disease most commonly affect a person’s legs and feet. In the early stages, many don’t notice any unusual signs. When they become apparent, however, individuals often report a combination of symptoms, such as pain, skin discoloration, swelling, varicose veins, numbness, or a heavy feeling in the legs.
Also referred to as peripheral vascular disease symptoms, this condition occurs as a result of a narrowing of the blood vessels assigned to carry blood to the extremities. This narrowing can be caused by a number of other problems, including an abundance of plaque in the arteries, poor circulation or a blood clot. Although anyone at any age can experience symptoms of vascular disease, it most commonly affects older individuals with a history of high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes.
In the early stages, vascular disease is often asymptomatic. Over time, however, affected individuals may begin to experience aches and pains in their legs, especially after exercise. However, these sensations usually disappear after a period of rest. When the disease is in a more advanced stage, chronic pain is usually experienced, which is not relieved by rest.
Other noticeable symptoms include a lower body temperature in the legs and feet, hair loss in these areas, and a decreased heart rate in the legs and feet. Often, people with peripheral vascular disease also develop foot and leg ulcers. The healing time of ulcers is also very slow due to circulatory problems.
Symptoms of vascular disease also include skin discoloration in the affected areas. Often, the skin will appear pale or bluish in color due to lack of blood flow. Additionally, individuals with symptoms of vascular disease may notice that the skin on their legs and feet appears to glow or become noticeably thinner.
Without treatment, the symptoms of vascular disease can lead to the development of gangrene. When this occurs, skin cells begin to die. Gangrene is most common following an injury that has failed to heal properly due to reduced blood circulation to the wound area.
Because a dysfunctional circulatory system can affect any part of the body, symptoms of vascular disease elsewhere in the body can include chest pain, throat tightness, arm pain, and tissue damage. These symptoms can further lead to minor or major aneurysms, the onset of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Each of these is a potentially life-threatening condition if proper medical care is not sought immediately.
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