Manila: Persistent leg pain or numbness should not be dismissed as mere fatigue or aging, as these symptoms may indicate a dangerous vascular condition called limb ischemia (LI), which is closely associated with heart attacks, strokes, and potentially fatal outcomes if left untreated.
According to Philippines News Agency, during the Philippine Heart Association’s (PHA) Usapang Puso sa Puso webinar, Paolo Joel Nocom, chair of the PHA Council on Coronary Artery Disease, highlighted that limb ischemia is not merely a circulation issue in the legs but a reflection of overall cardiovascular health. Nocom, who also heads the Philippine Heart Center’s Section of Peripheral Artery Disease, explained the potential link between blockages in the leg arteries and those in the heart or brain.
Nocom advised that symptoms such as persistent leg pain, numbness, coldness, tingling, or weakness may indicate poor circulation due to arterial blockages. These blockages can affect the heart and brain, creating a dangerous connection between leg pain and cardiovascular disease.
He urged individuals to seek medical advice if they experience recurring leg pain, especially at night or while at rest, coldness and paleness in the limbs, numbness, tingling, or weakness, or non-healing wounds on the feet or toes. For acute cases, Nocom highlighted the ‘6Ps’ – pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesia, paralysis, and poikilothermia – as emergency indicators of acute limb ischemia (ALI), which can cause tissue death within hours, leading to serious consequences.
Nocom acknowledged the challenges in accessing advanced treatments like angioplasty and bypass surgery, which are expensive and limited to specialized hospitals in the Philippines. He emphasized the importance of early detection and prevention to avoid severe outcomes. Managing diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol through medications, along with lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy diet, are crucial in managing limb ischemia and preventing complications.
