Signs to Look for During the Summer Months

Now that Summer is in full swing, you are more than likely taking advantage of the longer days and warmer weather to enjoy outdoor activities. Whether you spend your summer days golfing, hiking, biking, swimming, or working around the yard, you are more than likely to experience aches and pains from using muscles more often than you did during the colder winter months. While lack of activity certainly explains some of those aches and pains, if you are experiencing aching legs and feet, it could be signs of a more serious issue. In today’s post, we will look at symptoms that could mean you need to schedule an appointment with Advanced Vascular Surgery.

Symptoms to Look For and What They Could Mean

When you start noticing consistent aches in your legs and feet, you should start tracking the symptoms. You should keep track of when the pain starts, when it starts to recede and dissipate, and how frequently it occurs. This information can tell us whether you are experiencing a serious venous issue, like Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), which involves pain or fatigue that begins shortly after you begin a physical activity and fades away with rest.

Normally, you will experience sore muscles after exercising for a while, with soreness lingering for a day or two as your muscles heal themselves. If you experience tingling, burning, or joint-based pain sensations, these could be signs of other conditions like diabetes and arthritis.

What are the Risks?

While it’s important to monitor your aches and pains to maintain living in comfort, but this data can also tell a lot about your overall health. Conditions like PAD impact the proper flow of blood in your body, preventing your muscles form getting the oxygen they need to work. Without getting your PAD properly treated, you could end up suffering from even more serious conditions including heart attack, stroke, skin ulcers, and even gangrene.

If PAD is diagnosed early enough, you may be able to treat the issue with a change in your diet, giving up cigarettes, or exercising regularly to promote and improve blood circulation. However, if you leave this condition untreated, it can get progressively worse, possibly requiring surgery in order to improve your blood flow. At Advanced Vascular Surgery, our experienced professionals can give you a physical exam to get to the root of the problem you are having with leg pain. Contact us to schedule your initial appointment for proper diagnosis today!