What Causes Leg Ulcers?

Heart Disease

A heart disease patient may develop leg ulcers as a complication of the effects the disease has on their body. Heart disease refers to a condition where the arteries in an individual's body become hard and narrowed due to the buildup of a substance referred to as plaque. The blood vessels in healthy individuals have walls that are flexible and able to accommodate the higher pressure and increased blood volume temporarily. However, patients who have developed heart disease as a result of the accumulation of plaque in their arteries have blood vessels that cannot compensate under challenging conditions. Plaque buildup occurs when long-term high blood pressure has damaged the lining of the arteries, allowing cholesterol and other fatty substances to penetrate and calcify in the vessel. As more plaque accumulates, the total amount of space blood can pass through becomes progressively reduced. This mechanism causes a shortage of oxygenated blood in distant tissues of the body like the subcutaneous tissues of the legs and feet. Without an adequate blood supply in these tissues, the cells can necrotize and cause open ulcers to develop.