This Is Why You Shouldn't Ignore Shortness of Breath

When you think of “shortness of breath,” you immediately think of a lung problem. But what if we told you that your shortness of breath was due to a circulatory system problem, and if you ignore it, you could end up with an amputated leg?

In the US, 82% of all lower extremity amputations are due to peripheral vascular disease (PVD), diabetes (which has vascular effects), or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). That means the shortness of breath you’re experiencing is a serious medical condition you shouldn’t ignore.

At Heart Vascular & Leg Center in Bakersfield, California, our expert team of vascular, podiatric, and wound specialists understands the seriousness of poor circulation stemming from vascular disease. That’s why we make every effort to diagnose and treat your symptoms as early as possible, to prevent the condition from getting out of hand and leading to possible amputation.

What are PVD and CVI?

PVD and its more commonly known subset peripheral artery disease (PAD) are caused by a narrowing of the blood vessels that deliver oxygenated blood to your tissues. High blood pressure can rough up the lining of your arteries, which then allows the buildup of a mixture containing cholesterol, fats, protein, calcium, and cellular debris. Over time, this plaque hardens, narrowing the artery and forcing the heart to work much harder with each beat to push the blood through.

The CDC estimates that some 12-20% of people over age 60, about 8.5 million individuals, develop PAD.

Chronic venous insufficiency takes place on the venous side of things, in the veins that return deoxygenated blood back to the heart by way of the lungs. Veins contain one-way valves to force blood flow upward from your feet against the pull of gravity. 

If the veins become damaged, say, from high blood pressure or an injury, they don’t fully close after the blood’s passed through. Blood flow becomes sluggish, and blood pools around the damaged valve; the resulting pressure on the vein wall causes the appearance of raised, ropy protrusions on your skin — varicose veins.

Left untreated, varicose veins can lead to more serious stages of disease, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), venous stasis dermatitis (skin discoloration), edema (swelling), and eventually foot and leg ulcers, slow-healing wounds that can easily become infected.

Where does shortness of breath come in?

If your chronic venous insufficiency advances to DVT, your life, literally, may be at risk. DVT is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein as a result of poor circulation. If the clot, or a piece of it, breaks off and travels to the lungs — called a pulmonary embolism (PE) — it can block your airway, causing shortness of breath that may become life-threatening if the clot cuts off all air supply. PEs affect about 1 in 1,000 people in the US each year.

Lack of sufficient oxygen in the tissues due to sluggish blood flow and accompanied by shortness of breath, can also lead to tissue death or gangrene. Dry gangrene (aka mummification), where the skin becomes dark, dry, and shriveled, is most commonly associated with chronic disease, such as the atherosclerosis seen in PAD, and diabetes, which damages blood vessels. Gangrenous tissue must often be surgically removed, so the lower limb, where it usually appears, has to be amputated.

Gangrene can also occur in the internal organs. This doesn’t show externally, but symptoms include fever, nausea, increased heart rate, and, again, shortness of breath — all signs of septic shock.

If you’re experiencing shortness of breath, don’t ignore it. Make an appointment with Heart Vascular & Leg Center for an evaluation to determine if you have vascular disease — the earlier it’s caught, the more successful treatment will be. Give the office a call at 661-230-9659, or book online with us today.