DANVILLE – Does walking make your legs ache?

It may not be just a pulled muscle or part of getting older, according to experts at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center in Danville.

Sometimes leg pain is a warning of potentially serious vascular problems.

"Chronic pain isn't normal," says Janet Ragle, director of imaging and cardiology at the Provena United Samaritans cancer center.

"Don't just attribute leg pain to becoming older," she urges. "There could be some underlying peripheral artery disease or perhaps some vein disease, varicose veins, and there's actually something we can do about that."

Provena United Samaritans plans to offer a free seminar to provide information about those two vascular conditions – both of which can cause pain in the legs – and the treatments available for them at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21.

The seminar will be held in conference rooms 2 and 3 at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, 812 N. Logan Ave., Danville.

There will be light refreshments, two medical speakers and free risk assessments for peripheral artery disease and varicose veins.

Reservations are required, even though there's no charge. To reserve a place, call toll-free 866-776-8362.

Ragle said peripheral artery disease often goes undiagnosed, because people tend to attribute their leg pain to other things, such as arthritis or aging.

Having peripheral artery disease raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, gangrene and amputation, yet "only about 25 percent of the cases are actually diagnosed and treated," Ragle said.

Peripheral artery disease is a condition in which the arteries – particularly those in the pelvis and legs – become narrowed and blocked, similar to what happens to coronary arteries in people with coronary artery disease. In coronary artery disease, the blood supply to the heart is restricted, and when someone has peripheral artery disease, the blockages can restrict blood flow to the kidneys, stomach, arms, legs and feet, according to the American Heart Association.

People at the highest risk for peripheral artery disease are smokers, diabetics and those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a family history of peripheral artery disease, according to the heart association.

Common symptoms are cramping, pain or tiredness in the leg or hips while walking or climbing stairs.

But how do you know the difference between peripheral artery disease and just plain being out of shape? Ragle said with peripheral artery disease, the pain goes away when you rest, but returns when you exercise your legs again.

Some other warning signs are a shine to the skin, hair loss on the legs and wounds on the legs and feet that just won't heal, she said.

Do any of these symptoms apply to you? Ragle urges patients to ask their doctors for an ankle-brachial index test, which simply involves taking blood pressure readings in the ankle and arm to see if they're equal. A difference could indicate a need for further testing, she said.

"I think an ABI should be checked as we start getting older, just as we get our cholesterol checked," she added.

Doctors treat peripheral artery disease by injecting dye into the arteries to identify the blockage and then opening them with a balloon procedure, Ragle said.

Varicose veins, the swollen, twisted veins below the surface of the skin, may not cause any medical problems. But sometimes they can result in pain, blood clots or skin ulcers, according to the Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

"Varicose veins can be very painful, and you can have some leg swelling," Ragle said. "And really, if you have a job where you have to stand a lot, it can really affect your work."

Risk factors include having a family history of varicose veins, pregnancy, inactivity and being overweight. Women are at a higher risk than men.

Sometimes lifestyle changes are recommended for varicose veins that aren't causing medical problems. For those that are causing pain and swelling, Ragle said there is ultrasound-guided laser treatment available.