5 Signs You Could Need Vascular Testing

Your vascular system plays a critical role in transporting blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout your body. It’s made up of your arteries, veins, and capillaries, and when something disrupts its flow of functioning, it can lead to serious health conditions.

You won’t always have obvious symptoms early on if something isn’t right with your vascular system. Vascular testing helps detect blockages, narrowed vessels, or weakened arteries before they become emergencies. But how do you know when it’s time to consider testing?

At Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, we want you to know these five signs of possible vascular troubles that you should never ignore.

1. Leg pain while walking or climbing stairs

If you feel cramping, fatigue, or pain in your calves, thighs, or hips during activity, but it goes away with rest, it may be a sign of peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs, and it's a red flag for more widespread cardiovascular disease.

2. Non-healing wounds or sores on your legs or feet

Poor circulation can slow healing and increase your risk of infection. If you have ulcers or wounds on your lower extremities that aren’t healing properly, vascular testing can help determine whether a blocked artery is the cause. The ultrasound testing can also guide effective treatment.

3. Numbness, tingling, or coldness in your extremities

Reduced blood flow from narrowed or blocked vessels can lead to cold, numb, or tingling sensations in your hands, feet, or toes. These symptoms may seem minor but can signal underlying vascular problems like PAD or even Raynaud’s phenomenon.

4. Swelling or heaviness in your legs

Persistent leg swelling or a heavy, achy feeling — especially by the end of the day — could indicate chronic venous insufficiency or even a potential deep vein thrombosis. Early vascular screening helps rule out dangerous blood clots and venous disease or, if detected, allows us to treat the condition early on before it progresses.

5. Family history of vascular disease

Even if you’re not currently experiencing symptoms, a strong family history of vascular conditions, aneurysms, stroke, or heart disease may put you at higher risk. Vascular testing can serve as a preventive step to assess your overall cardiovascular health and identify issues early.

About vascular testing

Noninvasive vascular tests like ultrasounds, ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurements, or Doppler studies help detect poor circulation, blood clots, and arterial blockages, without discomfort or downtime.

If you're experiencing suspicious symptoms — or have risk factors like diabetes, smoking history, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol — don't wait. Vascular issues often develop silently and progress over time.

Call our office or use our online tool to schedule an appointment today at our West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, practice. Our integrated primary care and cardiology team provides comprehensive vascular screenings to help you stay ahead of preventable complications.