What is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)?
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a type of cardiovascular disease that affects the arteries in your legs. It can cause pain in the calves or thighs, as well as numbness or tingling in the feet and toes.
The main cause of PAD is atherosclerosis, which occurs when plaque builds up inside your arteries. Plaque is made up of cholesterol and other substances from within your blood that stick together to form a sticky substance called atheroma. As this buildup continues over time, it narrows your arteries and reduces blood flow throughout your body–including those in your legs. This makes it difficult for oxygen-rich blood cells to reach parts of the body like muscles or organs like kidneys–which leads to complications such as heart attack or stroke if left untreated!
Symptoms of PAD
● Leg Pain. The most common symptom of PAD is leg pain. This can be mild or severe, and it may feel like a dull ache or sharp stabbing sensation in the calves or thighs.
● Leg Fatigue. As you walk, your leg muscles have to work harder than normal to pump blood back up through the arteries that supply them with oxygen-rich blood from the heart. This extra effort can make you feel tired after walking only a short distance, especially if you’re not used to exercising regularly or if there are other factors contributing to poor circulation (such as obesity). Some people describe this experience as feeling like “crunched up” when they stand up after sitting for long periods of time–the difference between being seated vs standing upright causes an uncomfortable sensation due to reduced blood flow through their legs.* Skin Discoloration (Dyspigmentation). Pale spots on hands and feet may indicate that there’s been some damage done by lack of oxygenated blood flowing into these areas; they may also appear reddish purple due to increased pressure within capillaries underneath affected skin areas.* Swelling/Edema
Diagnosis of PAD
You can have PAD and not know it. The symptoms of PAD are often subtle, and many people who have the condition don’t realize they have it until they’re diagnosed by their doctor.
The most common way to diagnose peripheral arterial disease is through a physical exam by your doctor. During this exam, your doctor will check for signs of claudication (pain in the legs when walking) or other symptoms associated with PAD, such as cold feet or hands and skin color changes on your feet and legs that look like blue veins under the skin surface. If these symptoms aren’t present but you still suspect you may have PAD based on risk factors such as smoking history or high blood pressure readings taken during previous visits, then imaging tests like ultrasound scans might be used to see whether there are blockages in any of your arteries supplying blood to the legs and feet
Treatment of PAD
● Lifestyle Changes
● Medication
● Surgery
Preventing PAD
● Maintain a healthy weight.
● Regular exercise, such as walking or bicycling, helps keep your arteries healthy and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.
● Quit smoking if you smoke (or never start). Smoking greatly increases the risk of developing PAD in addition to other serious health problems such as lung cancer and emphysema.
Living with PAD
Living with PAD is a process that requires diligence and commitment. The first step is to manage your risk factors, which means making changes in your lifestyle and diet. If you are diagnosed with PAD, it’s important to follow your treatment plan as directed by your doctor. Doing so can help reduce the risk of complications from this disease, such as heart attack or stroke.
When to See a Doctor
If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor.
● Leg Pain: This is often described as a cramping or aching sensation in the legs that may radiate up into the groin area. It’s usually worse at night and can wake you from sleep.
● Leg Fatigue: Feeling like your legs are heavy and tired after walking, climbing stairs or standing for long periods of time (more than 30 minutes).
● Skin Discoloration: The skin around an affected artery can appear blue or purple due to lack of oxygen reaching it from the heart muscle–this is called “ischemia.”
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
● What is the best treatment for me?
● What lifestyle changes should I make?
● What are the risks and benefits of surgery?
Outlook for PAD
If you have PAD, it’s important to get the proper treatment and follow up with your doctor. While there is no cure for PAD, early detection and treatment can help reduce the risk for complications such as heart attack or stroke. If you suspect that you have PAD, talk with your doctor about getting tested for it. If a diagnosis is made early on in the disease process and treated properly, chances are good that your prognosis will be good–even if there are other medical issues present at the same time (such as diabetes).
Takeaway
● PAD is a serious condition that can lead to heart attack or stroke.
● Recognize the symptoms of PAD, which include leg pain when walking, swelling in your legs and feet, and/or discoloration on your toes or fingers.
● Seek treatment early if you have any of these signs–the sooner you do so, the better your chances are for recovery.
