If You Feel Weakness in Your Legs, See a Cardiologist ASAP

Each year in the US, numerous people die due to cardiovascular diseases while others suffer from them. The major causes of death such as heart attack and stroke are known by everyone but very few people are fully aware of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), a coronary disease that is the major, though hidden, culprit of many deaths.

Currently, about 6.5 million people are living in the US with undiagnosed PAD, which is far more common than you think. Therefore, you must carefully monitor your health and watch out for weakness, especially in your legs, which can be a vital symptom of PAD.

Health experts insist that you schedule a PAD screening and heart check immediately if you feel this symptom.

1. Why do your legs experience weakness?

Peripheral Artery Disease results in arteries becoming constricted or blocked, which results in less than normal blood flowing to your body tissues. The lower parts of legs are most likely to be affected by PAD, and when they get less blood, the patient develops muscle atrophy in their calves. 

Muscle atrophy is characterised by shrinking or wasting of the lower leg muscles which explains the weakness in them. According to studies, Peripheral Artery Disease causes calf muscle area to be reduced in addition to an increase in calf muscle fibrosis due to severe ischemia (reduced blood flow).

Therefore, PAD can be identified by reduced mobility as affected people have slower walking velocity and lower physical activity due to lower leg muscle atrophy.

2. Treatment 

Reduced mobility is not the only problem faced by people with Peripheral Artery Disease. Their affected tissue also develops mitochondrial abnormalities, which results in oxidative stress, reduced calcium retention, and enhanced cell death.

“Therefore, targeting mitochondria might be a promising therapeutic approach in PAD,” according to a 2019 study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. Some people argue that these treatments are not effective and do not meet the needs of PAD patients.

However, speaking to your doctor may be the best option for you as treatments are not completely useless; surgery, medication, and a better lifestyle have proved to greatly improve patient health outcomes

3. Why you should never ignore any signs of PAD

The consequences of Peripheral Artery Disease are quite severe so its screening must not be overlooked when you have your regular heart checkup or if you feel even a slight, unexplained weakness in your leg. 

PAD has a great effect on your muscle health, strength, and physical endurance, not to mention a far greater effect on your heart health. PAD actually occurs due to buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, the same plaque that causes blockage of the coronary arteries, hence, its treatment is necessary.

People with PAD are at more risk of dying from cardiovascular causes and those with muscle atrophy have a 75 percent likelihood of mortality within 10 years of a Peripheral Artery Disease Diagnosis.

It is necessary to get a PAD screening done if you feel like your leg muscles are wasting away. Even though it is a minor symptom, it can be an implication of a far greater problem. 

Did you know about PAD or were you unaware of it? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments.