Early symptoms of vascular diseases: Your blood vessels may be under stress, it's time to pay attention

Early signs of vascular problems: Pain or tightness in the calf muscles while walking may signal reduced blood flow, especially if it eases after you stop moving (Image: Canva)

If you feel calf cramps walking upstairs, arm heaviness while brushing your hair, and then lose your appetite, it could all be connected and point to something more serious. Vascular problems usually come with subtle symptoms. Your blood vessels are part of nearly every body system, and when circulation begins to struggle, it can show up in unexpected ways. However, most vascular issues are manageable when caught early.

Your arteries are like roadways for oxygen, says Dr Karthik Mikkineni. “If there’s a jam or blockage, everything beyond that point gets affected. One of the most common culprits is atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty plaque inside arteries,” he says.

Also, where it happens determines the symptom. “In the legs, it causes walking cramps. In the gut, it shows up as post-meal pain. In the arms, even lifting a shampoo bottle can become a struggle. These are the body's gentle nudges that something’s not right,” says Dr Mikkineni.

Causes of low blood pressure: If one arm’s blood pressure is consistently much lower than the other, it may suggest narrowed arteries on that side of the body (Image: Canva)

Also read | Can diabetes lead to vascular disease? How to prevent vascular complications in diabetes

Explaining why the symptoms feel scattered, Dr Mikkineni says that many people don’t connect symptoms like weight loss, cold fingers, or tired limbs to blood flow. But they should. “Your vascular system runs through every organ, so when blood doesn’t reach where it should, it creates issues that seem unrelated. Raynaud’s syndrome, for example, is a vascular spasm, your body overreacting to cold. It’s not dangerous on its own, but it can be a clue to underlying problems,” explains Dr Mikkineni.

The expert suggests one should watch out for the following 10 symptoms of vascular problems:

• Leg cramps: Pain or tightness in the calf muscles while walking may signal reduced blood flow, especially if it eases after you stop moving.
• Post-meal pain: If eating leads to abdominal discomfort or cramping, especially followed by weight loss, it could indicate blocked arteries to your intestines.

• Cold toes: Cold, numb, or colour-changing toes, especially if they turn white or blue in cold weather, might point to poor peripheral circulation.
• Sore or ulcers on legs: Sores or ulcers on your legs or feet that don’t heal properly could be caused by reduced oxygen supply from narrowed blood vessels.
• Weak pulse: A weak or absent pulse in your feet or legs may indicate a blockage in your peripheral arteries needing further investigation.
• Consistently low blood pressure: If one arm’s blood pressure is consistently much lower than the other, it may suggest narrowed arteries on that side of the body.
• Heaviness in arms: An odd heaviness or tired feeling in the arm,especially when lifted, could signal vascular issues in the upper body.
• Chronic fatigue: Chronic tiredness without explanation may be due to poor blood supply to muscles and organs, leading to low-grade physical exhaustion.
• Skin changes: Shiny skin, reduced hair growth, or thin, fragile skin on the legs can signal reduced circulation over time.
• Swelling in one leg: Swelling in one leg without an obvious cause could be linked to venous problems, such as deep vein thrombosis or varicose veins.