Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition that causes the arteries that carry blood to different parts of the body to become narrower. If PAD isn’t treated on time, it can lead to a stroke, changes in skin color, and total loss of blood circulation to the legs and feet, which can cause gangrene and the loss of a limb. However, knowing what to look for can save your life, and experts have revealed 10 things to know about the disease.
Eric Stahl, MD, a non-invasive cardiologist at Staten Island University Hospital, says, “PAD is often misdiagnosed because its symptoms aren’t clear. Therefore, checking in with a doctor or nurse regularly for evaluation is important. An ankle-brachial index (ABI), which compares blood pressure measurements in the lower legs to those in the arms, is often the first step in making a diagnosis. If the results are not normal, more tests may be needed to figure out how much the narrowing is.
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PAD is caused by blockages in the arteries that bring blood to the legs. The cholesterol deposits that make up these blockages are the same as the ones that cause heart attacks. So, the way to stop PAD is the same way to stop a heart attack. Dr. Todd Villines, a famous clinical cardiologist and the Chief Medical Officer of Elucid, says, “We know that the primary cause of PAD is atherosclerosis or the buildup of plaque in the arteries.” This happens when arterial inflammation, cholesterol, calcium, and scar tissue build up, making plaque that clogs the arteries and slows blood flow to the legs, as per the Cardiovascular Coalition. The more plaque builds up on the inside walls of the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the legs and arms, the less flexible and narrower the arteries become, putting patients at a higher risk.
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The number of people who have PAD rises with age. PAD is also more likely to happen if you smoke cigarettes or have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. The risk of it happening to smokers is three times higher than people who don’t smoke. People with diabetes are almost twice as likely to get PAD as people without diabetes.
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Dr. Ian Del Conde-Pozzi, a cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist at Baptist Health’s Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, says that peripheral arterial disease is very common around the world, especially in older people and those who have had diabetes or smoked in the past. A good way to help prevent PAD is to live a healthy life.
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Pain, aches, tiredness, burning, or discomfort in the muscles of your feet, calves, or thighs are the most common signs of PAD. Most of the time, these symptoms appear when you walk or work out and go away after a few minutes of rest.
At first, you may only notice these signs when you walk uphill, faster, or farther. Slowly, these symptoms start to happen faster and less often when you exercise. When you are at rest, your legs or feet may feel numb. The legs may also feel cool to the touch, and your skin may look pale. However, the symptoms of severe PAD include:
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PAD usually affects the legs and feet. Patients with PAD often feel tired, sore, crampy, or uncomfortable in their legs, especially when walking or working out. Leg symptoms are usually the first sign of peripheral artery disease that is getting worse. Most people with severe PAD have problems with their legs when they walk, like tiredness or pain. Leg pain is less common in and of itself. However, if walking hurts your legs, you should get checked for PAD.
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A careful but simple physical exam can often rule out significant PAD. For example, if your ankles have strong pulses, you are unlikely to have a serious PAD case. This is important to know so that your doctor can check your pulse.
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The treatments for PAD have changed a lot in the last 20 years. In addition to medicines that stop PAD from getting worse, patients can now be treated with catheter-based techniques that are less invasive and have good results.
There are things you can also do to avoid getting PAD or at least aid in its treatment. Quitting smoking and taking care of diabetes well are the most important things for preventing and treating PAD. A heart-healthy diet, like the Mediterranean diet, and regular physical activity also slow the progression of atherosclerosis and the development of PAD. If changing your lifestyle isn’t enough, you can take medications that lower cholesterol and blood pressure and also stop blood clots from forming.
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Aspirin or clopidogrel (Plavix), a medicine that keeps blood from clotting in your arteries, is usually prescribed to treat PAD. It would be best if you did not stop taking these medicines before talking to your doctor or nurse. Cilostazol is a drug that works to widen (dilate) the affected artery or arteries when surgery is not an option for moderate-to-severe cases. Surgery may be done if your condition is far too severe bad and makes it hard for you to work or do other important things, if you have pain even when you’re resting, or if you have sores or ulcers on your leg that don’t heal.
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Some of the things you can do to lower your risk of peripheral artery disease are:
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