2 | January/February 2015
Valley Radiology
1301 Medical Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304
910.486.5700
www.valleyradiologync.com
A Cure For Your
Tired, Aching Legs
How do your legs feel when you
walk to the mailbox?
Or walk around the store?
How about at the end of a long
day?
Tired, aching legs, swelling of the
ankles, muscle tightness and cramps
are not signs of the normal aging
process. These symptoms could mean
that you have disease within the blood
vessels of your legs, otherwise known
as peripheral vascular disease.
Peripheral vascular disease, PVD, is a
complex disease that affects millions
of Americans, especially as we get
older. About 10 million Americans
have peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
which is plaque build up inside the
arteries (the vessels that deliver blood
to the muscles of your legs). Even
more people are affected by disease
of the veins (the vessels that return the
blood back to your heart). Up to 60 %
of women and 40 % of men over the
age of 50 have varicose veins/venous
insufficiency. Many people can have
disease in both the arteries and veins.
How do my legs feel if I have PAD?
In PAD, the muscles in your legs are
not getting enough blood and oxygen
because of a blockage in the arteries.
This can cause muscle cramps or
tightness, weakness or tired feeling in
your legs, especially with walking or
exercise. If it is severe enough, it can
cause infections and ulcers in your
legs. PAD is often caused by smoking,
diabetes, and high cholesterol.
How do my legs feel if I have
venous disease?
Venous insufficiency can lead to dilation
of the veins or varicose veins which
causes the blood to pool within your
legs and not return efficiently to the
heart. When this happens, your legs
can often develop swelling and have a
throbbing or aching feeling that is often
worse at the end of the day. If it is severe
enough, venous disease can also cause
infections, skin changes and ulcers in
