September is Vascular Disease Awareness Month | Signs & Symptoms

Leg pain when walking, persistent leg swelling and wounds that heal poorly can be warning signs of vascular disease. Some blood vessel conditions cause few or no symptoms until they become serious. Recognising a change in your circulation—and knowing when to seek help—is the message behind this video.

September’s vascular disease and peripheral arterial disease awareness campaigns are an opportunity to talk about arteries, veins, blood clots and the aorta. In the video above, I introduce a series of short explanations about vascular health, the symptoms people sometimes overlook, and when a proper assessment may be needed.

What is vascular disease?

Vascular disease affects the blood vessels that carry blood around the body. Arteries carry blood away from the heart; veins return it. The aorta is the body’s main artery.

Vascular conditions include peripheral arterial disease (PAD), varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection. These are different conditions, so their symptoms, risks and treatments are not interchangeable.

Heart health and arterial health are closely connected. PAD and coronary artery disease share risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Looking after these risk factors matters beyond the heart itself.

Which symptoms should you look out for?

The topics introduced in this Short cover several changes worth paying attention to:

• Leg pain when walking. Aching or cramping brought on by walking and relieved by rest can be a sign of peripheral arterial disease, where narrowed or blocked arteries reduce blood flow to the legs. Repeated symptoms should not automatically be put down to age or fitness.

• Swelling, aching or heavy legs. These may occur with varicose veins or other venous problems. Persistent swelling, skin changes or ulcers deserve assessment; visible veins alone do not establish how serious a problem is.

• Foot or leg wounds that are slow to heal. Poor healing can have several causes, including impaired circulation. A foot wound in someone with diabetes needs prompt medical attention.

• New swelling in one leg. Especially when accompanied by pain, tenderness or warmth, this needs urgent medical assessment for a possible deep vein thrombosis. DVT is a clot in a deep vein, and not everyone develops all the typical symptoms.

These signs are reasons to seek advice, rather than a way to diagnose yourself. Muscle, joint and other medical problems can also cause leg symptoms.

Can vascular disease be silent?

Yes. Some vascular conditions develop without obvious warning signs. For example, an abdominal aortic aneurysm often causes no symptoms. An aneurysm is an abnormal widening of an artery; an aortic dissection involves a tear in the inner lining of the aorta.

This does not mean everyone needs a scan. Whether an examination, circulation test or imaging is appropriate depends on your symptoms, medical history and individual risk.

When should you seek urgent help?

Seek emergency care now for sudden severe abdominal or back pain, sudden breathlessness or chest pain, fainting, or a limb that suddenly becomes cold, painful or numb. These symptoms can signal serious problems and should not wait for a routine clinic appointment.

In Singapore, call 995 for a life-threatening emergency.

When is a vascular assessment appropriate?

Arrange a medical assessment for persistent or recurring leg pain when walking, unexplained swelling, skin changes or a wound that is not healing. Mention any diabetes, smoking history, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

An assessment helps determine whether your symptoms relate to the arteries, veins or another cause, and whether further tests are needed. New one-sided swelling or rapidly worsening symptoms require more urgent attention.

Follow the September vascular health series

In this introductory video, I set out the topics for the month: walking-related leg pain, poor circulation, diabetic foot wounds, varicose veins, blood clots, aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections.

September also includes Aortic Dissection Awareness Day on 19 September and World Heart Day on 29 September. The next Short starts with a commonly missed warning sign of PAD: leg pain when walking.

Vascular care in Singapore

For non-emergency concerns about your circulation, contact Andrew Choong Vascular Surgery to enquire about an assessment with Dr Andrew Choong, Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon.

The clinic is at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, #09-22, 38 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore 329563.

This article expands on the accompanying video for general education. It does not replace an individual medical assessment or personal medical advice.