When most people think about heart health, they think about the chest. But your heart is only one part of a much larger system—the vascular system, which includes arteries and veins that carry blood throughout your entire body.
Healthy circulation doesn’t just protect your heart. It supports your legs, feet, skin, and ability to heal wounds. When blood flow is compromised, problems often show up far from the chest, sometimes long before heart symptoms ever appear.
Your heart pumps blood, but your arteries and veins are responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to every tissue. When these vessels narrow, harden, or weaken, the effects can include:
These symptoms are often mistaken for aging, arthritis, or “poor circulation,” when they may actually signal vascular disease.
Conditions like atherosclerosis—the buildup of plaque in arteries—affect the heart and the legs. Patients with vascular disease are at higher risk for:
In many cases, the legs show warning signs before a major heart event occurs.
You should consider a vascular evaluation if you experience:
Heart Month is the perfect reminder that cardiovascular health is whole-body health. Paying attention to leg symptoms, wounds, and circulation can protect not only mobility—but life itself.
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