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Leg pain could be a warning sign for heart trouble—Here's what to watch for
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Not every instance of leg pain can be related to weakness in the leg muscles or a heavy session of exercise. Sometimes, it could be signalling heart trouble, here's how.
"A blockage in the leg can be as dangerous as a blockage in the heart," said Brett Carroll, MD, Director of Vascular Medicine in the Cardiovascular Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medicine School.
If you are at a high risk of developing heart disease, the pain in your leg could be due to peripheral artery disease (PAD). The disease shares many causes and risk factors with coronary artery disease (CAD) and can be an early sign.
PAD is caused by blockages that develop when arteries that carry blood to the legs get clogged by plaque, a mix of calcium and cholesterol that can block coronary arteries in the heart.
What are the symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease?
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The disease is estimated affect 1 in 20 people over age 50 and 1 in 5 people over age 70, as per the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
One of the most prominent symptoms are tired and aching legs. This is known as claudication, which is different from other types of pain that result from arthritis or a bone and muscle problem.
This pain begins in the calves or thighs while a person is walking, improves with rest, but reoccurs when walking resumes. While people mostly attribute this pain to age or health, it is an indication that narrowed arteries are reducing blood flow to the legs.
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Loss of leg hair, foot ulcers that take time to heal and more are also some symptoms to focus on.
What are the risks of developing Peripheral Artery Disease?
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The same risk factors that can damage your heart can also lead to PAD which include diabetes, high levels of bad cholesterol and high blood pressure. Smoking is also the principal risk factor for many types of vascular diseases including PAD.
How to deal with Peripheral Artery Disease?
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If you visit a physician, they will diagnose the disease through an ankle-brachial index test that compares two blood pressure measurements.
Personally, you must continue walking and exercising as it will improve the conditioning and blood flow in the leg.
