The Ins and Outs of Arterial Disease Care in Rogers

Dealing with Leg Pain and Arterial Disease

Much like the subject of venous disease, arterial disease care is something many people rarely think about. And why would they? Most people never have to consider their vascular health until something goes wrong and they need some form of venous or arterial disease care, in Rogers or elsewhere. By the time it does, people are often already aware of an issue and making changes to improve their quality of life. Recovery from arterial disease, however, can be incredibly difficult.

Arterial disease is so tricky because it rarely shows any symptoms until the problem has progressed into severe stages. As a result, patients coming into the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center for the first time are usually only doing so because they’ve exhausted the rest of their care options. Leg pain that won’t go away, shortness of breath they can’t explain—we often try to tackle these symptoms independently, without realizing they are a byproduct of our vascular health. That means our patients often deal with discomfort and vascular disease for quite some time before they ever even hear about us.

Your Trusted Vascular Specialists

You know Dr. Haney and the incredible team at the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center for their work as premier vein experts in Rogers. With patients from all across Northwestern Arkansas, from Bentonville down to Fayetteville, they’re trusted across the region to provide concierge-level care and the highest-quality vein treatments available.

However, our care services have now expanded! We have become your one-stop shop for all things vascular health. No longer simply a support system for your venous health, the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center can now provide you with world-class arterial disease care in Rogers.

Spearheading this growth is Dr. Christopher Stout, the newest addition to the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center family. Dr. Stout is highly trained in diagnosing, treating, and managing diseases and conditions affecting arteries and veins. He is a celebrated veteran in the field and provides training to vascular professions from across the country, hoping to learn from his years of experience as a leader in his field.

As we’ve learned from our years of providing care to our community, many people haven’t had the opportunity to learn about vascular health. A general lack of awareness is one of the many reasons we’re committed to providing exceptional patient education to everyone we work with.

This blog will provide a breakdown of how arterial disease can impact your body and ways to mitigate the issue. We’ll go into specific signs and symptoms of three common arterial diseases, along with tips and tricks to keep your vascular system healthy!

So, What is Arterial Disease?

Your arteries are the blood vessels that conduct blood from the heart to the rest of your body. Nearly every artery in your body carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the distinct tissues and organs that need it, making them a pivotal part of your circulatory health.

Notably, your arteries don’t face the same medical issues that your veins do. For example, your arteries are the problem area in question when discussing healthy or unhealthy cholesterol levels.

Thankfully, you can count on the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center to provide comprehensive arterial disease care in Rogers!

The Basics of Arterial Disease

Some of the most common problems specific to the arteries treated at the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center include:

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the first stage of all other arterial diseases. As plaque builds up within an artery, it leads to the progressive thickening of the artery’s lining. The thickening process slowly narrows the artery’s interior, blocking the flow of blood and reducing blood circulation around the body to specific organs or regions of the body. This process, atherosclerotic occlusive vascular disease—atherosclerosis—is best described as hardening of the arteries. All other vascular diseases stem from plaque buildup and arterial hardening.

Risk factors for atherosclerosis include:

• High cholesterol and triglyceride levels

• High blood pressure

• Smoking

• Type 1 diabetes

• Obesity

• Physical inactivity

• High saturated fat diet

Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid Artery Disease is far more dangerous on its face than a simple case of Atherosclerosis. Carotid artery disease is simply the narrowing or blockage of the carotid artery due to plaque build-up. The carotid artery is the artery that carries oxygenated blood to the brain. Over time, this narrowing may eventually become so severe that a blockage decreases blood flow to the brain and causes a stroke.

Factors that increase your risk of carotid artery disease include:

• High cholesterol and triglyceride levels

• High blood pressure

• Smoking

• Type 1 Diabetes

• Family history

• Age

• Sleep apnea

• Obesity

• Physical Inactivity
• High saturated fat diet

Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), a specialty at the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center, results from a progressive thickening of an artery’s lining caused by plaque buildup. This narrows or blocks blood flow, reducing blood circulation to specific organs and bodily extremities. Bodily extremities, like your legs, are the most noticeably affected by PAD. Much like in the instance of Carotid Artery Disease, if the plaque surface in your artery breaks apart or becomes ulcerated, it could cause blood clots or plaque blockages. Particulate debris from this buildup travels through the circulatory system, impacting blood flow to tiny blood vessels and potentially damaging sensitive organs—like your brain!

Risk factors for peripheral artery disease include:

• High cholesterol and triglyceride levels

• High blood pressure

• Smoking

• Type 1 Diabetes

• Family history

• Age

• Obesity

• Physical Inactivity

• High saturated fat diet

Signs and Symptoms

Most arterial diseases are asymptomatic until significantly progressed in large part because your arteries are only routinely monitored when something is already going wrong. Otherwise, most medical professionals see no need to take up your time. This makes routine screening (especially if you have any of the above risk factors) imperative.

Atherosclerosis is identifiable with routine blood work but can be nearly impossible to detect if not severe. Because it is the precursor of other, more complex arterial diseases, it is most frequently identified by diagnosing other arterial diseases. Likewise, Carotid Artery Disease is often only identifiable when patients start experiencing the worst byproducts of its progression: strokes. There are, thankfully, some arterial diseases that are easier to detect.

Peripheral arterial disease is an example of arterial disease with notable symptoms. Characterized by the weakening or obstruction of blood flow within your legs, PAD causes most patients to experience cramping pain in the joints or muscles of their legs and hips. PAD also has other identifiable symptoms you can use to gauge your arterial health, including:

• Decreased lower leg temperature
• Difficulty ambulating or pain while walking
• Toe or foot wounds that will not heal or heal very slowly
• The change of your skin color on your legs to purple or blue
• Gangrene
• Thin, shiny skin
• Hair loss on your legs

There are many arterial diseases beyond just these three examples that we treat in our office, many of which are completely asymptomatic in their early stages.

Learn more about the symptoms of arterial disease→

If you or a loved one are experiencing any symptoms listed above or unexplained shortness of breath, chest pain, or soreness, consider reaching out to your primary care provider. 

How to Care for your Arterial Health

There’s a lot you can do without involving a vascular surgeon to improve your arterial health and prevent the worst of these conditions. After all, conservative treatments and preventative care are hugely important in mitigating circulatory weakness and arterial disease. 

If you are noticing any of these symptoms, it’s essential to take steps to mitigate future issues. Good behaviors can’t remove plaque already there, but they ensure that the problem doesn’t worsen. With supportive artery care, your vascular health should only improve!

So what is there for you to do? 

Our advice isn’t glamorous, but it is simple: take care of your body.

Conservative Care

Make sure not to smoke, consume smaller portions, watch your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and stay as active as possible. Much of the stress we place upon our circulatory system is, with attention, easily fixed. Though some patients don’t have a say in the matter due to underlying issues, for most people, your artery health is up to you.

Learn how to take care of your arteries at home→

If you’re looking for more specific steps you can take to improve your artery health, here are a few activities you can do:

• Exercise. Exercising is a great way to improve vascular health, as it keeps blood flowing and prevents further plaque buildup. Walking and cardiovascular exercise are beneficial, but anything that elevates your heart rate is good. You should make a point of exercising once a day or as much as is feasible.
• Eat Healthier. Diet is a major contributing factor to arterial disease. Foods high in cholesterol are a major cause of plaque buildup and increased blood pressure, so eating healthy is important in improving your health: more fruits and vegetables, less red meat and dairy.
• Lose Weight. This item is the most difficult. Being overweight can significantly strain your circulatory system, as it requires more work to move blood around your body. Losing weight is a vital step to improve circulatory function and overall vascular health.

Vascular Care

In tandem with conservative care, consulting a vascular specialist is essential to continue arterial health. After all, conservative care can’t erase pre-existing plaque. Rather, it can simply prevent further unhealthy buildup and mitigate the potential worsening of symptoms.

Consulting vascular professionals is important because they can help set long-term treatment plans and medication regimens in place to eliminate the issue. This style of conservative care isn’t available purely through at-home lifestyle changes or behavioral adjustments. Medications like statins are vital for lowering cholesterol levels, a key factor in arterial disease, and require a prescription from a doctor or vascular surgeon.

Additionally, it’s worth discussing surgical or interventional care for improving your vascular health. These care alternatives are only available when consulting a vascular professional equipped with the resources to provide you with comprehensive care.

Read about why you should see an Artery Specialist in Rogers→

Turn to the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center for Arterial Disease Care in Rogers

If you require arterial disease care in Rogers, come to the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center. There’s no one better at providing the comprehensive vascular care you need to improve your health. Our experience and constantly growing suite of care options enable us to guide you toward lasting wellness solutions. We work nonstop to provide you with concierge-level care for a happier, healthier life.

We are a premier practice in Northwest Arkansas for all the highest-quality vein and artery treatments available. Dr. Haney, our new vascular surgeon Dr. Stout, and our expert staff have over 75 years of combined experience taking care of patients’ vascular health. People travel to see us from all over Northernwestern Arkansas, from Fayetteville to Bentonville and beyond, to ensure they receive the best concierge-level care and vascular procedures available. 

Helping people is what we do, and it is our mission to provide the people of Northwestern Arkansas and beyond with the absolute best care possible. That’s why Dr. Haney and Dr. Stout are committed to constantly improving the quality and breadth of care available to our patients. 

Take charge of your vascular care with our Instant Vein & Artery Screening Quiz or by scheduling a consultation today.