Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Why Should You Be Concerned?

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) develops when plaque, or fatty deposits, build up in your arteries that limits blood flow to your legs. Just like plaque build-up in the arteries of the heart, plaque build-up in the legs indicates greater risk for having a heart attack or stroke.

Plaque build-up in the legs may not always cause symptoms so many people can have PAD and not know it. People who do experience symptoms, such as pain or cramping in the legs, often do not report them, believing they are a natural part of aging or due to another cause. PAD affects 8 to 12 million people in the United States, especially those over age 50.

Peripheral Arterial Disease Risk Factors

The cause of plaque build-up in the limbs is unknown in most cases. However, there are some conditions and habits that raise your chance of developing PAD.

• Age 50+
• Smoking or history of tobacco use
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Personal history of vascular disease, heart attack, or stroke
• African Americans

Signs and Symptoms of PAD

Typical signs and symptoms of PAD include:

• Claudication – fatigue, heaviness, tiredness, cramping in the leg muscles that occurs during activity such as walking or climbing stairs. This pain or discomfort goes away once the activity is stopped and during rest.
• Pain in legs and/or feet that disturbs sleep
• Sores or wounds on toes, feet, or legs that heal slowly, poorly, or not at all
• Color changes in the skin of the feet, including paleness or blueness
• A lower temperature in one leg compared to the other leg
• Poor nail growth and decreased hair growth on toes and legs

Treatment

Your healthcare provider will determine the best treatment options for you based on your medical history and the severity of the condition. If you have more than one risk factor, start working on the one that you are most ready to change. Keep changes simple and be sure to include friends and family to support you, add fun activities, and enjoy good healthy foods to guarantee success! Remember that many conditions are improved and your risk decreases when you quit smoking. Check with your insurance provider to see what assistance they provide for smoking cessation.

• Lifestyle changes: controlling your blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels through diet, medication, and exercise.
• Discontinue smoking
• Medication
• Special procedures or surgeries

St.Vincent is concerned about your health. If you do not have a Primary Care physician and would like to find one in your area, please call 317-356-CARE (2273).