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What Should I Pay Attention To On The Blood Work And What Can I Do To Feel Better About This?
Question: I recently went to the hospital for chest pains and had 2 clean ekgs and cardiogram was normal. They diagnosed me with sinus bradycardia but the heart clinic said it was all good and didn’t even bother with the 24hr monitor. My question that didn’t get addressed was the pain down my whole left leg. My foot gets cold. It starts in my thing and feels tight all the way down. I’m only 35 but freaked out about PAD and clogged arteries in my leg. I quit smoking two years ago after a 15yr habit and just stopped vaping. How can I address this to a dr to be taken seriously and will I be in immediate danger? My wife says my pulse behind the knee is much weaker on the left side. I know I need to walk more but I don’t drink and have been eating super clean for months now. My bloodwork seems pretty normal. What should I pay attention to on the blood work and what can I do to feel better about this? Thank you for your time
Brief Answer:
An ankle-brachial index would be the next step
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
At age 35 a problem with blood flow to the leg would be uncommon, but if you are having leg pain, especially when you walk (and goes away when you rest), it should be investigated. There are no blood tests that can reliably be used to suggest this diagnosis. However, the next test that should be done is an ankle-brachial index, in which they compare the blood pressure at your ankle and in your arm. This is a very useful test and can be done by any doctor in the clinic. This will go a long way in determining if you might have this problem. If it is abnormal, the next step is usually a CT angiogram, in which they do a CT scan with XXXXXXX that shows any stenosis or restriction in the blood flow to your leg. If that is confirmed, usually a bypass or other procedure is done to fix this restriction.
Other causes of leg pain would include nerve compression of one of the nerves coming out of the spinal cord, and that should be checked for if the testing comes back negative for blood flow problems.
Again, to answer your questions specifically, the way to make sure a doctor takes this seriously is just to tell them your specific symptoms, and if they suggest a blood flow problem in the leg, they will take the next step, which should be an ankle-brachial index. There is nothing on blood work that will definitely determine whether you have this problem or not, though most people with this problem will have high cholesterol. The way to feel better from this depends on the cause, which if it is from a restriction of blood flow, would be the bypass or other procedures that I mentioned.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
An ankle-brachial index would be the next step
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
At age 35 a problem with blood flow to the leg would be uncommon, but if you are having leg pain, especially when you walk (and goes away when you rest), it should be investigated. There are no blood tests that can reliably be used to suggest this diagnosis. However, the next test that should be done is an ankle-brachial index, in which they compare the blood pressure at your ankle and in your arm. This is a very useful test and can be done by any doctor in the clinic. This will go a long way in determining if you might have this problem. If it is abnormal, the next step is usually a CT angiogram, in which they do a CT scan with XXXXXXX that shows any stenosis or restriction in the blood flow to your leg. If that is confirmed, usually a bypass or other procedure is done to fix this restriction.
Other causes of leg pain would include nerve compression of one of the nerves coming out of the spinal cord, and that should be checked for if the testing comes back negative for blood flow problems.
Again, to answer your questions specifically, the way to make sure a doctor takes this seriously is just to tell them your specific symptoms, and if they suggest a blood flow problem in the leg, they will take the next step, which should be an ankle-brachial index. There is nothing on blood work that will definitely determine whether you have this problem or not, though most people with this problem will have high cholesterol. The way to feel better from this depends on the cause, which if it is from a restriction of blood flow, would be the bypass or other procedures that I mentioned.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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