Getting a Good Diagnosis…Vascular Disease

Should I see a vascular Specialist?
Do not ignore your leg pain!  The severity of the disease and length of time it goes untreated can make a big difference in your treatment and recovery.  If you think you may have a problem, make an appointment to see a vascular specialist.  Remember, atherosclerosis can occur in any of your arteries.  If you are having symptoms in your legs, it is possible that arteries in your heart or neck could also be narrowing, setting you up for a possible heart attack or stroke.

What will a vascular specialists do?
A thorough medical history and physical exam will give the doctor information needed to determine if further tests are required.

Your doctor may order a test, called a segmental pressure test, to check the blood flow in your leg arteries.  A vascular technologist will wrap blood pressure cuffs around both arms, and at four places along your leg – the upper thigh, the lower thigh, the upper calf, and the ankle.  The technologist measures the blood pressure at each location, and the blood pressures in the arms are compared to those in the legs.  A decrease in blood pressure in the legs is an indication of arterial blockage.  You may also have an ultrasound scan of your legs.  If angioplasty or surgery is being considered as a possible treatment for you, your doctor may recommend an angiogram.  During an angiogram, dye is placed in the artery while X-ray pictures are taken.  The dye “lights up” your arterial system, making it possible to pinpoint the exact location and severity of your blockages.

How can vascular disease be treated?
The best treatment will depend on a number of factors.  In some cases, lifestyle changes are enough o slow the progress and manage the disease.  Sometimes, procedures are necessary to open up clogged blood vessels. 

The goal of any treatment program will focus on reducing your number of risk factors and will usually include:

• Exercise program
• Reduction of fat and cholesterol in diet
• Controlling diabetes and hypertension
• Smoking cessation; if you are a smoker, it is absolutely essential that you stop.