Atherosclerosis Symptoms

Symptoms in the Brain

If the arteries that supply your brain are affected, you may have symptoms of a stroke or a TIA (transient ischemic attack -- a "mini-stroke").
 
Specific stroke symptoms or TIA symptoms can include:
 
  • Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
     

Symptoms in the Legs, Pelvis, or Arms

If the arteries that supply your legs, pelvis, or arms are affected by atherosclerosis, you have symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). These symptoms can include:
 
  • Claudication, which is pain, ache, or cramping in the muscles that occurs during exercise but improves with rest
  • Cold or numb feeling in the feet or toes, especially at night.
     

Atherosclerosis Symptoms and the Kidneys

If the arteries that supply your kidneys are affected, you may have symptoms of renovascular hypertension (also known as high blood pressure). Most people with hypertension do not have any symptoms until the disease starts affecting other organs, such as the heart or eyes. However, some people have high blood pressure symptoms that include:
 
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea.
     

Add
Email
Print
Pages:

Previous 1 2

Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Other Articles in This eMedTV Presentation