Circulation

What health conditions interfere with circulation?

Conditions that commonly affect blood circulation include:

Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease occurs when the arteries that deliver blood to your heart become clogged with plaque, a condition called atherosclerosis. Plaque develops if cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, or other substances accumulate on an artery wall.

As plaque enlarges and hardens, it blocks blood flow to your heart. Untreated coronary artery disease can lead to congestive heart failure, a heart attack, or a heart rhythm disorder.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

When atherosclerosis occurs in an artery outside your heart, you have PAD. You can develop PAD in the arteries that supply your arms, legs, pelvis, and brain, but it most often affects your legs.

Heart conditions

Problems that occur in your heart and block its ability to circulate blood include valvular diseases, heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias), heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), and congestive heart failure.

Blood clots

Blood clots partially or completely block blood flow through an artery or vein. You can develop a blood clot when a problem stops your blood from circulating normally. For example, a blood vessel injury, surgery, certain medications, and prolonged sitting or bed rest can all lead to blood clots.

Chronic venous insufficiency

When valves in your leg veins stop functioning, blood flows back down the vein instead of going up your leg toward your heart. This is chronic venous insufficiency, affecting circulation in the vein, leading to varicose veins, and raising the blood pressure in the lower leg vein.

When high venous pressure goes untreated, it results in thickened and discolored skin, venous stasis ulcers, and critical limb ischemia.

What symptoms develop due to circulatory disorders?

Most circulation problems develop slowly over many years before causing symptoms. As a group, the problems that block normal circulation cause symptoms such as:

• Chest pain and/or pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent cough
• Leg pain and/or cramps
• Leg numbness
• Restless legs
• Non-healing wounds
• Reddish-brown skin
• Leg, ankle, and foot swelling
• Irregular heart rhythm
• Varicose veins
• Fatigue
• Low tolerance to exercise

PAD is often recognized by leg pain that occurs when walking but feels better at rest.

How are circulation problems treated?

Lone Star Heart and Vascular Center offers exceptional care for all the conditions responsible for circulation problems. Your care begins with a wide range of diagnostic tests that the doctors conveniently perform in-office, from EKG, PET scans, echocardiograms, and stress tests, to vascular imaging such as ultrasound.

Your provider focuses on comprehensive care that incorporates preventive cardiology, support for lifestyle changes, and prescription medications. The cardiologists at Lone Star Heart and Vascular Center are also experts in minimally invasive endovascular procedures.

If you have any concerns about your cardiovascular health, call Lone Star Heart and Vascular Center, or schedule an appointment online.