Arm artery disease typically occurs as a result of other health issues, including autoimmune disease, atherosclerosis, embolism, and as a complication of dialysis access. If you develop this uncommon type of peripheral artery disease, you’ll need professional medical treatment to protect your health.
The signs of arm artery disease can develop slowly over a long time period, or appear suddenly. No matter the pace of your disease progression, Dr. Enrico Ascher and the vascular experts at the Vascular Institute of New York can diagnose the problem and recommend an effective management plan.
Dr. Ascher sees new and existing patients at his state-of-the-art office in New York City, New York. If you notice these telltale signs of arm artery disease, make an appointment to see Dr. Ascher right away. Here are 10 symptoms to watch for.
Blockages in the arteries that supply blood to your arms can occur due to a blood clot arriving from your heart. The arteries in your chest could also become injured or affected by arm artery disease due to multiple causes.
Severe pain or numbness in one of your hands could indicate a recent blood clot in the related arm. This may be a medical emergency. Call 911 or seek emergency medical care right away. If you can’t detect your pulse, you may also need urgent medical care
Disorders in your arm arteries can cause lingering symptoms. For example, if you have Raynaud’s disease, you may feel symptoms of numbness and cold, followed by stinging or tingling sensations. Ongoing hand pain and numbness are also common signs of arm artery disease related to dialysis access.
A limb affected by arm artery disease can become difficult to use. When you try to use your arm, you might feel fatigue or muscle cramps, or your arm might seem unusually heavy. In advanced cases of arm artery disease, you can suffer muscle atrophy due to restricted blood flow.
When arm artery disease prevents one of your extremities from getting sufficient blood flow, you can start to see things going wrong with your tissue and cellular regrowth and healing capabilities. You might develop sores that won’t heal or notice that your fingernails appear discolored and regrow very slowly. Your arm hair may also be slow-growing and thin on an affected limb.
Patients with arm artery disease can have problems regulating their temperature. Your skin might be cold to the touch and appear pale. You could also be more sensitive to cold if you’re affected by arm artery disease.
Left untreated, arm artery disease can result in gangrene and other serious complications. Arm artery disease is not curable, but with lifestyle changes, medicine management, and surgical treatment, your condition can be effectively treated.
For diagnosis and treatment of potential arm artery disease, get in touch with Dr. Ascher at the Vascular Institute of New York today. You can schedule an appointment by giving our Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York offices a call now, or use the online tool to book.
