The purpose of the circulatory system is to deliver oxygen and nutrients
throughout the body and to remove waste products.
Your arteries are muscular tubes that vary in size and extend into all
parts of your body. They carry oxygen and nutrient enriched blood to your
muscles and organs.
Veins are collapsible tubes that carry waste products and deoxygenated
blood from your muscles and organs back to the heart and lungs.
Athersclerosis is a build up of plaque within the arteries of the circulatory system.
This plaque restricts or may even block the blood flow to your heart, arms,
legs or brain.
This pain may be caused by the inability of your peripheral circulation
to deliver enough oxygen to your legs during exercise. This pain usually
goes way quickly when you stop and rest.
Rest Pain
This pain may be caused by the inability of your peripheral circulation
to deliver enough oxygen to your legs at rest. This type of pain is
usually noticed when your feet are up, such as in a reclining chair or in
bed. This pain may go away in a normal sitting position or when you dangle
your feet off the side of your bed.
Ulcerations/Tissue Necrosis
Ulcerations and tissue necrosis (death of tissue) may be cause by the inability
of your peripheral circulation to deliver enough oxygen to your legs and
toes. The tissue starts to break down and eventually leads to gangrene.
