Signs of Human Circulatory System Problems

Circulatory problems in humans can be caused by a multitude of factors and illness or disease processes. Some of the most common are caused by high blood pressure, peripheral disease and varicose veins, just to name a few. Gaining understanding regarding some of the most common signs and symptoms of a circulatory problem may encourage individuals to seek the advice of a family health care provider for early diagnosis and treatment that may very well prevent larger, more serious issues in the future.

Pain

• In most cases, pain that accompanies a circulatory problem is caused by inadequate oxygen flow to a certain part of the body, most commonly the extremities. In a vascular disease of the legs, this pain might be felt when placing your full weight on one leg, such as when you climb stairs. Pain caused by lack of oxygen can be sharp and fleeting, but in many cases often generates a dull, throbbing pain and sensation of fullness or heaviness in a leg.

Nerve Sensations

• An individual experiencing blood circulatory problems may also exhibit some nerve damage because narrowed or engorged blood vessels may crowd or pinch nerves. Such signs are often felt as numbness, tingling or even weakness in an extremity. In many cases where nerves are affected by a circulatory problem, the arm or leg may also feel cold and even change color depending on the degree of blood loss, to a bluish or dark red color, similar to a severe bruise.

Cardiac Issues

• Anyone suffering from interrupted blood flow to or from the heart muscle may also experience symptoms such as pain in the shoulders or neck, a sense of pressure or squeezing in the chest, as well as a sense of dizziness or lightheadedness that produces anxiety. Irregular or interrupted blood flow in the heart muscle may also cause a rapid and skipping heart beat, nausea and sweating. Conditions such as angina are fleeting, while pain and symptoms caused by a heart attack are continuous.

Varicose Veins

• Varicose veins are common in individuals who are on their feet most of the time. Veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart and lungs but can become enlarged and thickened due to damaged valves within veins that regulate blood flow. Varicose veins are caused when blood flow reverses due to malfunction of these valves, creating buildup of blood in veins and eventually causing damage to the walls of the vein. Symptoms of varicose veins include unsightly threads of bluish veins that can be seen most often in the legs and around the knees. Legs and feet often feel heavy and tingle with pain that may even cause cramps.

Atherosclerosis

• Atherosclerosis is a condition caused by narrowed or clogged arteries that prevents blood from supplying vital oxygen to tissues and organs. Atherosclerosis may occur in the heart muscle, in arteries leading to the arms and legs and to the heart. Most often, symptoms of blocked or narrowed arteries include crushing pain in the chest, if the heart is affected, numbness and tingling as well as pain in the extremities or difficulty speaking or slurred speech, and numbness or weakness in other parts of the body if arteries to the brain are affected.