Likewise, low circulation in your legs and feet is often an early warning that, without corrective action, much more significant complications—possibly even fatal ones—may in your future. At first you might only experience occasional leg cramping or brief, intermittent tingling and numbness, and shrug it off. But you definitely don’t want to wait until symptoms get worse

“Low circulation” is not, in and of itself, a disease. It’s a symptom, common to conditions such diabetes, peripheral artery disease, atherosclerosis, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, Raynaud’s disease, and others—and often one of the first obvious signs that something is wrong.

The consequences of not seeking treatment can be catastrophic. Take, for example, atherosclerosis, by far the most common cause of peripheral artery disease (or PAD). In this condition, fatty plaque builds up inside your arteries, making them narrower, restricting blood flow, and increasing the risk of clotting. Fatty deposits in the legs often lead to numbness or cramping, but the fat also builds up elsewhere, including the heart and arteries that lead to the lungs or the brain. Reduced blood flow to those areas could lead to a heart attack, stroke, even death.

Low circulation comes with other problems, too. Since you need blood to deliver vital oxygen and nutrients to your body, low circulation can lead to permanent damage and death of tissues like muscles and nerves. It also makes it harder for your body to fight infection or close wounds, meaning small injuries can lead to substantial wounds that may even require amputation.

So, listen to your body. Take symptoms of low circulation seriously. We get it, no one likes going to the doctor, but this is one condition where the proactive approach is far better than the alternative. Seeking help could save your limb, or save your life. To schedule an appointment for a screening, call Carolina Podiatry Group at 888-569-9559.