How high Cholesterol within the blood will have an effect on your legs and feet
High Cholesterol within the blood will increase the danger of peripheral artery malady, inflicting symptoms in your legs and feet.
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| How high Cholesterol within the blood will have an effect on your legs and feet |
Cholesterol is crucial for your health. it's a waxy substance that's vital for several functions within the body and is transported through the blood.
Normally, healthy arteries, that area unit the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart, nourish the tissues of your body. however steroid alcohol, beside fats and different substances, will kind deposits on the walls of the arteries - this method is named coronary-artery disease. individuals with high Cholesterol area unit in danger of developing coronary-artery disease, which may slender the arteries and cut back blood flow to the tissues.
Although this plaque buildup is thought to cause heart attacks and strokes (blood clots within the brain), coronary-artery disease will have an effect on blood vessels anyplace within the body. Accumulation within the arteries of the legs and feet will cause a condition known as peripheral artery malady (PAD).
In the u. s., peripheral blood vessel malady affects over half-dozen.5 million individuals over the age of forty. five having peripheral arteriopathy will increase the danger of attack, stroke and different serious health conditions. speak along with your aid supplier if you've got high Cholesterol or symptoms of peripheral blood vessel malady. it's vital to create fashion changes for the hindrance of peripheral arteriopathy , yet as early designation and treatment.
Symptoms within the legs and feet because of peripheral arteriopathy
Peripheral artery sickness will cut back or block blood flow within the extremities, like arms and legs, moreover because the pelvis. the foremost common style of peripheral arteriopathy is lower peripheral arteriopathy, that affects the legs and feet.
Leg pain throughout exercise may be a common symptom of peripheral arteriopathy. alternative symptoms embrace physical changes in your legs and feet, which regularly occur within the nails and skin.
Peripheral blood vessel sickness sometimes starts slowly and gets worse over time, however the symptoms vary wide. quite 1/2 folks with peripheral arteriopathy haven't any symptoms. folks that haven't reported any symptoms is also physically inactive or mistake any muscle discomfort for a symbol of aging (the risk of developing peripheral arteriopathy will increase with age). In turn, peripheral blood vessel sickness is commonly diagnosed.
Some folks in danger of developing peripheral arteriopathy don't show any symptoms, however they show plaque buildup within the leg arteries through Associate in Nursing ultrasound scan. One tiny study disclosed that a lot of of those folks develop leg pain and a lot of plaque buildup inside a year of being examined.
In some cases, folks with peripheral arteriopathy might solely be diagnosed after they have symptoms severe enough to cause a medical emergency.
A health care supplier will facilitate determine the subsequent symptoms of peripheral arteriopathy
Muscle pain during exercise
A common sign of peripheral arteriopathy is a type of muscle pain known as lameness, which can include pain, cramping, numbness, and fatigue. This pain occurs with walking or any other physical activity. Most often it is located in the legs, but it can also occur in the butt, hip, thigh, calf or foot. The pain usually occurs in the muscles where the arteries are affected by the accumulation of cholesterol and fat.
With physical activity, muscles need additional blood to support exercise, but narrowed arteries prevent adequate blood flow.
Your body uses pain as a warning that the muscles are under stress due to insufficient blood flow.
Standing quietly and resting require less blood flow to the muscles, which reduces pain. In general, pain that starts with exercise can go away after the injured muscle is relieved.
But with continued physical activity, the pain can return - this is known as intermittent claudication.
For example, pain can begin after walking a certain distance, disappear with sitting for some time, and then return after walking the same distance.
Muscle pain at rest
In severe cases of peripheral arteriopathy, muscle pain may not go away even at rest - and can persist. Some people with peripheral arteriopathy find that they experience pain, cold, or numbness in their feet and fingers, usually at night or when their legs are elevated.
Lowering the foot below the level of the heart or dangling it over the bed may help reduce pain. - When the legs are down, gravity helps to draw more blood towards the feet, which temporarily reduces pain.
Skin and hair changes
People with peripheral arteriopathy may have smooth, shiny skin.
You may lose leg hair, or it may grow more slowly.
You may also notice that your skin color is changing. It may be darker than usual. At other times, it may turn into a bluish tint. Over time, impaired blood flow to the skin and hair cells of your legs causes these changes.
In one study of more than 540 adults at high risk of developing peripheral arteriopathy - suffering from either high blood pressure or diabetes - about a third (182 adults) were diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease.
Among people with peripheral arteriopathy, about 1 in 3 adults (65 people) had skin changes, which were more common among moderate or severe cases of peripheral arteriopathy.
Cold feet
If you have peripheral arteriopathy, you may find that your foot feels cold or cold to the touch. The blood flow helps keep your legs and feet warm.
When arteries are partially blocked by cholesterol and fats, it is difficult for your body to transport blood to areas far from the heart, to maintain a constant temperature.
Weak or missing heartbeat
If you have enough blood circulation, it is possible to feel your pulse on your feet from the process of pumping your heart.
With reduced blood flow, your healthcare provider may be able to detect changes when examining pulses. With peripheral arteriopathy, impulses may be weak or missing, especially those of the feet (eg, posterior tibial arteries or posterior tibial arteries).
To check the blood flow in your body, the provider uses a test called the ankle-humerus index (ABI), which compares the blood pressure in your legs with the pressure in your arms. The health ABI score is between 1.00 and 1.40. However, a score below 0.9 may indicate peripheral arteriopathy, although further tests are needed for diagnosis.
Thick nails
With PAD, you may notice changes in the toenails. Toenails may grow more slowly, become thickened, or deformed . Chronic poor circulation due to narrowed or blocked arteries supplying blood to the feet can lead to nail changes over time.
A decrease in the amount of muscle or muscle atrophy can be a consequence of peripheral arteriopathy.
Some people with peripheral arteriopathy show a general reduction in the calf or other calf muscles.
Sometimes a muscle biopsy may show emaciation inside the muscle fibers at the microscopic level.
Reduced blood flow to the muscles also reduces the delivery of oxygen and energy.
This can lead to changes in the structure of the muscles and is associated with a lack of mobility of people with peripheral arteriopathy.
Leg ulcers
Lack of blood flow from the arteries to the legs and feet may increase the risk of developing ulcers called arterial ulcers. These ulcers usually occur away from the heart on the legs, feet, ankles, or toes.
Impaired blood flow can damage cells, tissues and nerves, which can cause the formation of wounds (ulcers) on the skin, especially if there is a small injury.
These wounds can also be slow and difficult to heal and can form in areas with peripheral arteriopathy.
If a person has peripheral arteriopathy with ulcers on the leg, the wound may turn pale, pale or cold when the leg is lifted .When the leg is in a sitting position, the skin can turn red.
Tissue death If left untreated, peripheral arterial disease can progress to tissue death.
A severe lack of blood flow can cause leg tissue to die (gangrene). Over time, with narrowing of the arteries, you may develop pain even at rest or ulcers that do not heal.
This stage of peripheral arterial disease is known as critical limb ischemia (CLI).
Usually about 30% to 50% of people with peripheral arteriopathy are at risk of having a heart attack or stroke within five years, but this risk rises within a year for people with CLI.
Critical limb ischemia may require bypass surgery of the affected arteries to correct blood flow. If blood circulation does not improve, these areas become black and there is no cure once the tissue dies. If the wounds become infected or it is not possible to improve blood flow, amputation may be necessary.
Less than 5% of people who experience muscle pain due to peripheral arteriopathy may experience amputation of a major limb (at or above the ankle) after five years. However, about 30% to 50% of people with a CLI that does not improve in the first year may have this type of amputation.
When to see a healthcare provider
If you experience leg pain when walking or other symptoms of peripheral arterial disease, talk to your healthcare provider immediately for a diagnosis. Since some cases of peripheral arteriopathy may not have symptoms, be sure to undergo regular annual medical examinations, which include blood tests for blood pressure and cholesterol .
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have an increased risk of developing peripheral arteriopathy. They are more likely to occur in people with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking history, old age. Since blockage can occur in any blood vessel, peripheral arteriopathy is also associated with an increased risk of heart disease or stroke.
Treatment and diagnosis
For treatment and diagnosis, your doctor may consult a radiologist, endocrinologist (specialist in hormones) or vascular surgeon (specialist in blood vessels other than the heart or brain).
Your provider can give you treatments for peripheral arteriopathy or similar conditions associated with atherosclerosis. This may include drugs to prevent blood clots (antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin), as well as to reduce cholesterol.
Prevention
For the Prevention of high cholesterol, peripheral arteriopathy, or exacerbation of peripheral arterial disease, the provider may also recommend:
- Exercise regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Reduce your alcohol consumption
- Quitting smoking
Eat foods that are high in fiber or low in saturated fat, salt, and added sugars (whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats)
If a caregiver has diagnosed you with peripheral arteriopathy, you will need regular follow-up visits. Although there is no cure for peripheral arteriopathy, lifestyle changes and treatment can help prevent your condition from getting worse.
