Arterial Leg Ulcer - Medtick
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Arterial Leg Ulcer

What is it?

A leg ulcer is simply a break in the skin of the leg in this case the arteries, which allows air and bacteria to get into the underlying tissue.

Cause

  • Venous Disease i.e.
    • Standing up or sitting down for long periods
    • Not moving around when standing up or sitting down for long periods
    • Wearing high heels
    • Family history
    • Age (the older one gets the more likely the condition due to the vein walls become thinner and lose their elasticity with age)
    • Overweight
    • Occupation (where one has to stand up or sit down for long periods and is not moving around much)
    • Hormones (Women’s hormones tend to make the veins relax more)
    • Pregnancy (More weight on legs and pelvic region causing varicose veins in these regions and increased hormones in the body)
    • Weak blood vessel valves (Valves in veins become weak and lose their ability to pump blood effectively causing blood leak and flow backwards instead of towards the heart)
    • Veins lose their ability to pump blood effectively due to vein wall become thin and lose their elasticity.
    • Thrombophlebitis (Veins are hot, red and swollen causing blood clots in legs)
    • Sickle cell disease

Syndromes

Symptoms

  • Skin is hot, red and swollen or rash is breaking down (open wound) and being exposed?
  • Cold feeling legs and/or feet which can be numb and painful?
  • Whitish, bluish and shiny appearance?
  • Painful legs (diabetic may not feel pain as loose sensation in feet or legs)?
  • Pain increase when legs are elevated or at rest?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

This condition can lead to:

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Arterial Leg Ulcer in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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