When atherosclerosis occurs in leg arteries, it can cause pain or cramps in the hips, thighs or calves during exercise. This pain is known as intermittent claudication, because it stops when you rest. Intermittent claudication is caused by poor circulation. The arteries which bring oxygen-rich blood to your leg muscles have become narrowed due to deposits of plaque.

As the disease progresses, pain in the toes or feet may occur all the time, even when you are at rest (rest pain). You may also notice other symptoms such as:

• foot sores that don't heal
• less hair growth on your legs
• paleness in the leg or foot when elevated
• blue or red color in the foot when it is hanging down
• tingling, numbness or pain in the toes, foot or leg
• your foot and leg may feel cool to the touch
• difficulty spreading your toes or moving your foot

Eventually, if your legs aren't able to get enough oxygen-rich blood, gangrene or death of the tissue can occur and you may need part of your leg amputated.

Atherosclerosis which occurs in the carotid arteries (the arteries in the neck which supply blood to the brain) is a major cause of stroke. Many times, strokes occur without any warning. However, some people experience transient ischemic attacks -- warning signs that a stroke could happen at any time. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) means that the blood supply to part of the brain has been temporarily interrupted. A TIA may last a few seconds to a few hours. If a TIA persists longer than 24 hours, a stroke has occurred. Symptoms of both TIAs and stroke include:

• Paralysis, numbness, weakness or loss of coordination on one side of the body
• Drooping on one side of the face or mouth
• Blindness or loss of part of the vision in one eye
• Inability to speak or understand written or spoken words or difficulty speaking
• Episodes of memory loss
• Loss of consciousness

Baptist Hospital East is a pioneer the treatment of vascular disease. For more information, call the hospital's Information Center at (502) 897-8131. 

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