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Dr. Richard Wilkerson of The Vascular Center at Mercy

Dr. Richard Wilkerson, The Vascular Center at Mercy, Addresses How Vitamin D Can Prevent Blood Vessel Blockages

Getting enough vitamin D might prevent you from developing peripheral arterial disease, a problem that often goes undiagnosed. Carol Viacara has vascular disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, so when she felt sudden pains in her legs, she said she knew she had to see a doctor.

"My symptoms became more chronic. It was excruciating pain in my calf and foot, and I didn't have a pulse," she said.

Dr. Richard Wilkerson of The Vascular Center at Mercy diagnosed Viacara with peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, a disease where blockages form in the blood vessels.

"Symptoms of PAD can consist of leg pain when walking, and that's what we primarily see, and it can progress. It gets worse, to pain when you're just sitting or sores on your leg that just will not heal," Dr. Wilkerson said.

Recently, a national health and nutrition survey reported that low levels of vitamin D could be linked to PAD if you have other risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking.

"Controlling your risk factors is the most important part of stopping the progression of PAD, and that would be controlling your blood pressure or cholesterol, controlling your diabetes, and if you're a smoker, to stop smoking," Dr. Wilkerson said.

Mercy Medical Center dietician Linda Yerardi, RD, LD, said a healthy diet is also important, including eating foods like milk, cheese and fortified cereals that could keep your levels of vitamin D from getting too low. She said they help decrease the risk for cardiovascular disease or PAD.

Dr. Wilkerson said if you have pain in the muscles of the legs -- not the joints -- that bothers you when you walk or exercise, or when you're sitting, you should see your doctor. There are good treatments for PAD.

Low levels of vitamins D are nearly epidemic in the United States, according to recent reports. If you take vitamin D, make sure it's vitamin D3, the kind the body absorbs best.