Health & Wellness
Fit on
Board
Peripheral Arterial
Disease (PAD)
W
hat is Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)?
Peripheral arteries bring blood from the heart
to the outer areas of the body. Peripheral arterial
disease (PAD) is caused by a narrowing of the
peripheral arteries to the brain, stomach, kidneys,
legs, arms, and other body parts - most commonly
in the arteries of the legs.
Normally blood flows easily through arteries to
all parts of the body but sometimes fatty deposits
(atherosclerosis) build up inside the walls of the arteries causing it to become
narrow or blocked leading to a reduced flow of oxygen-rich blood to the
limbs. When muscles of the limbs do not get enough blood, symptoms then
occur.
How do I know if I have Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)?
Most patients develop PAD with no obvious symptoms while others
complain painful muscle cramping or aching in the hops, thigh or calves
when walking, climbing stairs or exercising. Typically, the pain goes away
with rest and returns when you resume walking (intermittent claudication).
If PAD is severe, you may experience skin ulceration or non-healing wounds
in the foot or toes, coldness or numbness in the arms, legs, thigh or toes, and
erectile dysfunction in men.
Those who smoke, have diabetes and high cholesterol are at high risk for
PAD. Other risk factors include advanced age, family history of PAD, coronary
artery disease (CAD) and stroke, obesity, physical inactivity, and high blood
pressure.
What happens when I have PAD?
When the blockage remains in the peripheral arteries in the legs, you may
experience the following:
*Pain leading to difficulty in walking
*Changes in the skin color
*Thinning or loss of hair in your legs
*Loss of sensation giving rise to non-healing wounds or ulcers.
*A total loss of circulation to your legs and feet can cause gangrene and
eventually loss of a limb.
If the blockage happens in the carotid artery, it can cause a stroke.
Patients with PAD have an increased risk of coronary artery disease and stroke
or brain attack.
How is PAD diagnosed?
Diagnosis of PAD is based on a history of typical symptoms desc