Symptoms of Peripheral Vascular Disease



Many people with peripheral vascular disease have either mild or no symptoms. Some of the signs and symptoms of peripheral vascular disease include:

  • Impaired Walking due to Leg Pain (claudication): Mild pain or muscle cramps that are triggered by any physical activity but disappear after a few minutes. The location will depend upon the location of the blocked artery and commonly happens in the calf muscle. Severe intermittent claudication can make any kind of physical activity very difficult.
  • Numbness or weakness in the legs
  • Cold lower leg or feet
  • Discoloration in the legs
  • Sores on the legs or feet that do not heal
  • Slower growth of toenails
  • Erectile dysfunction in men
  • A weak or no pulse in the legs

If you suffer from pain or numbness in the legs or have any of the other symptoms of peripheral vascular disease, then you should consult your doctor. Even if the symptoms are not present, you should be screened for peripheral vascular disease if you are:

  • Over the age of 70
  • Over the age of 50 and have diabetes, hypertension or have a history of smoking
  • Under 50, but have diabetes, hypertension or are in any of the high risk categories.