Peripheral Artery Disease, or PAD, is impacting millions of people each year. According to the American Heart Association, approximately eight million Americans have been diagnosed with PAD. It is most common in people 65 years of age and older. Right now, between 12 and 20 percent of the American senior population are impacted by the disease.
Approximately one in ten people with PAD will experience leg pain while they are walking, but its problems extend beyond pain. People diagnosed with PAD are four to five times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. Knowing the signs and symptoms of PAD can be a crucial way to save you from a heart attack.
Symptoms of PAD
PAD has a number of different symptoms of which patients should be aware. It is most usually experienced as muscle pain or cramping in the arms and legs. This pain is triggered by an activity, such as walking, but it will go away with rest. Calf pain is the most common. Other symptoms can include leg numbness or weakness, a feeling of coldness in the leg or foot, sores on the toes, feet or legs that will not heal, a change in leg or toenail color or hair loss on the legs and feet. As PAD progresses, the pain will continue to be felt while the patient is resting or lying down. At later stages, the pain may disrupt the patient’s sleep. Often, hanging the legs over the side of the bed or walking for a short time will relieve the pain.
Remember, PAD is muscle pain – not joint pain. Often PAD can be confused with neuropathy or arthritis. Anyone with chronic joint pain should consult a vascular surgeon immediately to ensure the pain is not a symptom of something more serious.
Causes of PAD
There are several potential causes of PAD. Some could include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or triglycerides, high levels of the amino acid homocystene, or the patient weighing more than 30 pounds above their ideal weight. Several of these symptoms can be managed and patients should consider ways to keep their risk factors as low as possible.
Treatment for PAD
Treating PAD is simpler when it is caught early. Often with early detection, lifestyle changes are the only modification a patient needs to make. If lifestyle changes are not enough, the patient may be prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs, blood pressure-lowering drugs or drugs which reduce the blood’s ability to clot. Walking exercises are other common forms of treatment and can include a 30 minute walk three times a week.
In advanced stages of PAD, vascular surgery may be necessary. This depends upon the pattern and extent of blockages, as well as the general health of the patient. Only a vascular surgeon can decide the best solution for a particular patient, and often that solution will include a combination of treatment options.
Angioplasty and stenting is one minimally invasive option and works best for localized blockages in large arteries. During this procedure, a vascular surgeon will insert a small catheter into a groin or arm artery. When it reaches the blocked area, the catheter will inflate and deflate until plaque buildup is pushed against the artery walls. At this point, a mesh stent is placed in the artery to keep it open and allow blood to flow freely. Other vascular surgery options include a bypass or, in extreme cases, amputation.
Author Resource:
Dr. Paul Collins is the author of this article on Bay Surgical Specialists .
Find more information about Vascular Surgeon here.
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