Good vascular health helps you stay active, improves your quality of life, and prevents serious issues like stroke, limb loss, and even death.
Unfortunately, too many people brush off common symptoms, assuming they are due to fatigue, minor injuries, or aging. As vascular surgeons, we know it is best to address these problems early when they are still treatable!
At Regional One Health, our nationally renowned American Board of Surgery board-certified vascular and endovascular surgeons offer exams and screening tests to get an accurate diagnosis.
From there, we can help you make lifestyle changes or find the proper medication to manage your condition. If you need more than medical management, we offer minimally invasive procedures with tiny “keyhole” incisions that let you recover quickly and get on with your life. Typically, these can be done with no overnight hospital stay.
SO, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO WATCH FOR?
To start, many people may not experience symptoms despite having vascular disease, so it is important to be aware of risk factors.
If you have a history of smoking or still smoke, you are at risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is one of the most common conditions we treat.
Leg pain that gets worse when you walk and improves with rest is the classic symptom. Foot pain even at rest is a marker of severe PAD, as are non-healing foot wounds, ulcers, or skin changes. It’s best to be seen immediately for these symptoms.
We also treat a variety of venous conditions, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and care for patients with rare, complex vascular conditions.
In general, vascular conditions are marked by pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, and a “pins and needles” sensation in the limbs. Don’t dismiss changes that seem superficial, like varicose veins, wounds that don’t heal, shiny or discolored skin, or a decrease in hair growth. All of these can be signs that the limbs aren’t getting proper blood flow due to a blockage or narrowing of the arteries.
Talk to a provider about your symptoms, even if they’re mild. Ask about a referral to our ABS board-certified vascular and endovascular surgeons for screening and care.
When we see patients in the early stages of vascular disease, we can often help prevent disease progression through lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, or through medications.
If you need surgery, we individualize procedures based on your general overall health and other medical conditions. As board-certified surgeons, we can offer minimally invasive endovascular procedures as well as other operations depending on your needs. We pride ourselves on patient-centric care, specifically tailored to each individual’s needs to maintain vascular health and quality of life.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, do not ignore them! By catching problems early, we can help you get back to the things you enjoy.
Learn more at Regionalonehealth.org/vascular.
By Erica L Mitchell, MD, MEd, FACS, DFSVS, MAMSE
