What is poor circulation?

Poor circulation occurs when there is inadequate blood flow to certain parts of your body. Your arteries and veins are responsible for delivering blood throughout your body and returning it back to your heart. This can cause poor circulation, and when that happens, a number of health problems can take place.

What Causes Poor Circulation?

    Your arteries deliver oxygen-rich blood from your heart to all of your body including your arms, legs and brain. Healthy veins allow the blood to return to the heart. When your arteries are healthy, they are smooth and unobstructed, allowing your blood to flow freely. But as we age, we begin to gradually buildup plaque in our arteries, which is a sticky substance made up of fat and cholesterol. This can cause the arteries to harden, become clogged, or even blocked (known as atherosclerosis), resulting in poor blood circulation. If left untreated, serious medical problems can occur.

P.A.D. Illustration

Symptoms of Poor Circulation:

  • Painful cramping of the muscles in the hip, thigh, or calf after activity (claudication)
  • Leg numbness or weakness
  • Coldness in the lower leg or foot, compared with other parts of the body
  • A sore, poorly healing wound or ulcer on the toe, foot, or leg
  • Change in skin color or shiny skin on the legs
  • Hair loss or slower hair growth on the feet and legs
  • Slower toenail growth
  • No pulse or a weak pulse in the legs or feet

Are you or a loved one concerned you may have poor circulation, or vascular disease?

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Are you at risk for poor blood circulation or vascular disease? Take our short quiz.

Learn if you may be experiencing correlating symptoms or have any risk factors.

Do you have leg pain with walking that goes away at rest?

Do you have pain in your foot or toes, even at rest?

Do you have slow or non-healing sores on your feet?

Do you have tightness, swelling, or weakness in your legs?

Do you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, or a family history of vascular disease?

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with P.A.D?

Have you been told by another physician that you have leg circulation problems?


Risk Factors for Poor Circulation and Vascular Disease

  • Smoking Risk Factor Peripheral Arterial Disease | PVA San AntonioSmoke (current or former)
  • High Blood Pressure Risk Factor Peripheral Arterial Disease | PVA San AntonioHigh Blood Pressure
  • Family History Factor Peripheral Arterial Disease | PVA San AntonioPersonal/Family History of Heart Attack or Stroke
  • Diabetes Risk Factor Peripheral Arterial Disease | PVA San AntonioDiabetes
  • High Cholesterol Risk Factor Peripheral Arterial Disease | PVA San AntonioHigh Cholesterol

If you are older than 50 years old, are experiencing leg pain, and have one or more of the risk factors above, you should consider requesting an appointment for a circulation evaluation.

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Visit us at one of our 15 convenient locations throughout San Antonio and across South Texas, or enjoy a virtual telemedicine appointment in the comfort of your home.

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Why Peripheral Vascular Associates?

South Texas is fortunate to be home to Peripheral Vascular Associates (PVA), one of the largest vascular specialty physician groups in the nation. Our physicians specialize in diagnosing and treating patients with vascular disease. Our team of physicians and staff are dedicated to providing personalized and comprehensive care to every patient which is why we are the leaders in vascular care.

Contact Us Today: 210.237.4440