5. Weakness or Numbness – Subtle Signs of Small Vessel Disease
One of the commonly overlooked but significant symptoms of Small Vessel Disease is the sudden onset of weakness or numbness. Often, this symptom tends to be more pronounced on one side of the body, either on the left or the right. While it may seem like a fleeting concern, it’s essential to understand that it could indicate a serious underlying condition like SVD.
The primary reason behind the manifestation of such symptoms lies in the fact that SVD leads to a compromised blood flow in our brain. The brain, being the central command system of our body, regulates all motor functions, including the strength in our limbs. When the blood supply is impaired due to SVD, the resulting impact is felt as a decrease in sensation or power in the limbs.
You might experience this as a sudden weakness in your leg, causing you to stumble unexpectedly. Alternatively, it might present as a sudden onset of weakness in your arm, making it challenging for you to grip objects. Both of these instances might be signals your body is sending to alert you about the possible onset of SVD.
Contrarily, the manifestation of SVD might not always be in the form of weakness. Instead, it could take the form of numbness.
This numbness could appear in any part of your body but is usually felt in the extremities like hands or feet. It might feel like your limb has fallen asleep or like a sensation of ‘pins and needles’. Although it’s common to experience these sensations after sitting or lying in a particular position for long, if they occur recurrently without an apparent reason, it could be cause for concern. (5)
