Your circulatory system is a closed loop that delivers oxygen and other nutrients to the body’s tissues and removes waste products. It’s powered by the pumping action of your heart, which moves blood through the loop, transporting it through a vast network of arteries and veins.

When there’s a problem with the system, you may end up with decreased circulation in the peripheral body areas, most notably the legs.

At Northwest Houston Heart Center, Dr. Adnan Aslam and Dr. Roy Norman want you to be informed about your circulatory health, so they’re addressing a common problem in this month’s blog – signs of poor leg circulation. If you know the signs, you’ll know when to seek medical help.

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)

Arteries are the conduits that take oxygen-rich blood from the heart and transport it throughout the body to fuel the body’s tissues. Veins are the conduits that take depleted blood and return it to the heart. Unfortunately for the veins, they have the harder task, as they have to fight the downward pull of gravity to move the blood upward.

The body has devised two workarounds for the problem. First, the calf and thigh muscles contract as the blood comes through, pushing it forward. Second, the veins contain many small one-way valves that close tightly once the blood has passed. The valves, though, are delicate and can be injured by a blow to the leg or even the force of high blood pressure.

When the valves are damaged, they can’t close completely; blood flows backward along its path and pools around the valve, increasing the pressure inside the vein. When this occurs in superficial veins, you see the colored protrusions on the legs – varicose veins. This is the first sign of poor leg circulation.

The underlying cause of varicose veins is termed chronic venous insufficiency, as the blood flow is insufficient to meet the body’s needs.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

When blood flow becomes sluggish, it can lead to the formation of clots in the veins. When these occur in the deep veins of the leg, it’s called DVT. The clot can partially block blood flow, slowing it even more, or it can completely prevent the passage of blood through the vein. This can lead to pain, leg tenderness, and a warmth over the affected area. This is the second sign of poor leg circulation.

DVT can be extremely serious if the clot (or part of it) breaks free of the vein walls. It can travel through the blood to the lungs, where it can block your airway. This is known as a pulmonary embolism, and it’s a medical emergency. 

Edema

Both CVI and DVT can lead to edema, the buildup of fluid in the leg tissue from leaky veins. You may notice that your calves and ankles appear swollen, and if you put your finger on the area, the depression remains for more than just a few seconds.

Elevating your legs and wearing compression stockings may help, but in cases of developing venous disease, you may need medication, or even surgery, to reduce the fluid. Edema is the third sign of poor leg circulation.

Venous stasis dermatitis

Venous stasis dermatitis occurs when blood and fluids leak from the veins, pool, and put pressure on the skin from the inside. In its early stages, you may notice edema in your legs or ankles. In addition, these areas may appear discolored.

One of the characteristic traits of this stage of vein disease is the orange and brown spots that appear on the legs and ankles – called cayenne pepper spots. These occur from the breakdown of hemoglobin, the molecule in blood that binds to oxygen and transports it to the tissues.

This is the fourth sign of poor leg circulation.

Slow-healing ulcers

If you fail to treat venous stasis dermatitis, it can lead to a severe stage of vein disease, in which slow-healing ulcers develop on the ankles, feet, and toes. Because they don’t heal well, they can become easily infected. They’re especially common in diabetics with neuropathy, which causes the loss of sensation in the extremities, and they can lead to lower limb amputation.

Ulcers are the fifth sign of poor leg circulation.

Vein disease and accompanying poor leg circulation are easiest to treat when they’re in their early stages. If you notice any of the signs of compromised circulation discussed here, it’s time to make an appointment with Northwest Houston Heart Center.

To schedule, give us a call at one of our locations — in The Woodlands, Magnolia, Cypress, or Tomball, Texas — text us at 832-402-9518, or book online with us today.