Leg attack

Leg attack

Do you have constant pain and burning sensation in your legs?

Then see your doctor immediately, it may be the earliest sign of peripheral vascular disease.

If u have a constant pain in your legs or continuous burning sensation in your toes while walking, doctors say that it is the earliest sign or the beginning of peripheral vascular disease which is now called leg attack which is more dangerous than a heart attack.

What is peripheral vascular disease(PVD)?

The word vascular implies the blood supply through arteries and veins and peripheral implies limbs. Hence the disease which occurs due to malfunctioning of these arteries and veins which supply the limbs or legs is called peripheral vascular disease. The blocking of arteries or narrowing of arteries which leads to obstruction to the blood circulation is the characterstic feature of peripheral vascular disease.

Causes: Nowadays there has been an exponential rise in vascular diseases in india due to:

1. Smoking

2. Diabates

Signs and Symptoms:

PVD mainly affects the legs.

1.Initially it begins with the pain or burning sensation in the toes. And the walking ability of the person slowly reduces.

2. Cold sensation in leg and feet

3. Redness or bluish discolouration of legs

4. Numbness and severe pain in legs

5. Delay in the healing of wounds and ulcers

Effects and Complications:

As said earlier leg attack has become more dangerous than a heart attack nowadays. The patients limb and life are at risk due to this leg attack. Due to lack of blood supply it can lead to the gangrene(death of tissues) of foot and toes which might demand for the amputation of the patients leg. The patients having blocked arteries in the heart i.e heart attack have 30% chances of developing vascular diseases in the other parts of the body, whereas blocked arteries in the leg indicates that the patient is having 60% chances of developing the vascular diseases in the other parts of the body.

Traetment:

If the patient is aware, leg attacks can be easily traeted in the initial stages with suitable drugs and some simple execises and physiotherapy. If the patient gets late to consult the doctor then the only method of treatment is vascular surgery which includes vascular bypass or angioplasty and stenting.

Awareness and Prevention:

Infact there is lack of awareness among many people especially indians regarding the leg attack.

This disease has become common nowadays in women between50-55yrs. However smokers and diabetics are more commonly affected by this disease. And if you are aware of this disease you can identify the disease in the initial stage itself with the help of above said symptoms. Hence the present issue is to create awareness among the people about this PVD. And it is also the task of public health servants and medical professionals to create awareness among the people to prevent the leg attack.