When You Should See A Vascular Surgeon
The vascular system, or circulatory system, is incredibly complex, made up of a series of blood vessels that carry blood to all the organs and tissues of the body. Just like we don’t think about our breath, we often don’t think about our circulatory system unless there is an issue; however, vascular disease is quite common, impacting around 78 million Americans. From varicose veins to strokes, our Fort Worth, TX, vascular surgeon Dr. Ramesh Paladugu and the team at Texas Vascular and Vein Center can provide you with the appropriate vascular interventions or surgery you may need.
Warning Signs of Vascular Disease
It’s important to know the warning signs and symptoms of the vascular disease so you know when to turn to us for an evaluation. It’s important not to ignore or downplay your symptoms. After all, it is always best to be safe rather than sorry.
Common warning signs of vascular disease include:
- Numbness in the toes at rest
- Toes that are painful or cold to the touch
- Foot or leg swelling
- Cramping or pain in the calves, thigh, or buttocks when walking (that eases with inactivity)
- Legs that are achy or easily fatigued
- Wounds of the legs or feet that don’t heal or are slow to heal
- Any sudden pain, coldness, swelling, or skin color changes in the legs
- Varicose veins that are painful or tender to the touch
- Vein clusters in the legs
- Bulging veins in the legs
While you may just want to pick up the phone and call your family doctor you must consider turning to a vascular specialist who will have the tools, techniques, and knowledge that you need to be able to accurately and swiftly diagnose and treat any vascular disease you may be dealing with. A family doctor will have limited knowledge and may not even have the diagnostic tools for the job. It’s important that if you are experiencing any of these symptoms that you call us as soon as possible for an evaluation.
People who are at high risk for vascular disease may also want to visit us regularly for checkups. Risk factors for vascular disease include:
- Being over 50 years old
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Smokers (both current smokers and those who have smoked in the past but have quit)
- Family history of vascular disease (or heart disease)
A vascular surgeon is a specialist who manages conditions, diseases, and injuries that impact the function of the arteries and veins throughout the body. Everything from heart disease and diabetes to cholesterol can impact how blood flows through the body and it is our job to ensure that our patients’ circulatory systems are functioning optimally, even with preexisting health conditions.