Your Legs Can Tell You Something About Your Heart

Arteries do more than supply the heart

Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. A buildup of fats, cholesterol and other material—called plaque—can narrow them.

When this limits blood flow to the legs, it is called peripheral artery disease, or PAD. Leg muscles may not get enough blood when you walk or climb stairs.

People with PAD have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. That does not mean tired legs prove you have heart disease. It means a circulation problem in your legs can be a reason to look at your heart health too.

Sources: 1, 2

It does not always feel like calf pain

A common pattern is leg discomfort that starts with walking, improves after a few minutes of rest, and returns when you walk again.

Some people notice aching, heaviness, burning, tiredness, weakness or numbness. Symptoms can involve the buttocks, thighs or calves. Some people with PAD have no leg pain.

Women are more likely than men to have no symptoms or symptoms that do not fit the usual pattern. PAD can be missed. You do not have to describe your experience as “pain” for it to deserve attention.

Sources: 2, 3, 4, 7

Bring the pattern to your appointment

Make a short note on your phone. These details can help your clinician work out what is happening:

• Where do I feel it—in one leg or both?
• Does it begin when I walk or climb stairs? About how far can I go before it starts?
• Does stopping help? How long does it take to settle?
• Am I walking less or avoiding activities because of it?
• Have I noticed a sore that is slow to heal, a color change, or one foot feeling cooler than the other?

Share your smoking history and any diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or kidney disease. These can make PAD more likely. Other problems, including joint or nerve conditions, can also cause leg symptoms.

Sources: 2, 4, 5

Ask whether your circulation needs checking

Your clinician may examine your legs and feet and check your pulses. One possible test compares blood pressure at your ankle with blood pressure in your arm. It is called an ankle-brachial index, or ABI.

Whether you need that test or another one depends on your symptoms, examination and health history. Everyone with tired legs does not need the same tests.

If PAD is found, care can include medicines, support to stop smoking, foot care and a structured exercise plan. The aim is to protect your legs and reduce your chance of heart attack and stroke.

Sources: 5, 6

Know when to get help sooner

Contact a clinician promptly for a foot or toe sore that is not healing, or new pain in your foot or leg while resting.

A leg or foot that suddenly becomes very painful, cold, pale, numb or hard to move can signal a sudden loss of blood flow. Call 911 or your local emergency number. Do not wait for a routine appointment.

Sources: 4, 6, 8