Peripheral artery disease (PAD) also known as the peripheral arterial disease is a medical condition where the arteries get narrowed and can’t carry much-needed blood to other parts of the body like arms and legs. It’s a form of peripheral vascular disease. When a person develops PAD, their legs don’t receive enough blood flow to keep up with the demand. This can cause leg pain while walking, which is the most notable symptom. If a person is suffering from PAD they’re more likely to have a widespread accumulation of fatty deposits in their arteries (atherosclerosis). This condition may be reducing blood flow to the heart and brain, as well as the legs. PAD is more commonly seen in people who are 65 or older but can occur at any age. Smoking, high BP, high cholesterol or triglycerides, diabetes, kidney failure and obesity increases the risk of PAD.
Causes
The fat and cholesterol in the bloodstream form plaque which builds up in the arteries. They make the arteries harder and narrower. This condition is known as atherosclerosis, which is the most common cause of . The common risk factors leading to PAD are –
Symptoms
Claudication also known as muscle pain or cramping due to reduced blood flow to the legs is common in PAD. Patients usually feel it when they walk or climb stairs, but it stops as soon as they take some rest.
It can affect different muscle groups, including:
Some people have a sense of burning or numbness. In an advanced form of peripheral artery disease, the toes or feet might hurt even while the person is resting.
The other symptoms of PAD include –
Diagnosis
The doctor will start the diagnosis with a physical examination to look for signs of PAD. They’ll check the blood flow in the legs and feet and listen for a whooshing sound from the arteries in the legs.
They might ask the patient to take the following tests which include –
Treatment
The first line of treatment of PAD consists of aggressively managing the risk factors with making major lifestyle changes and medications. Changing the current lifestyle and adopting healthy living habits like quitting smoking, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, controlling diabetes, losing weight and having a strict exercise program can significantly improve the symptoms of PAD in many cases. In serious cases, advanced treatment modalities like a balloon angioplasty, stent placement or surgical bypass are introduced to effectively improve the blood flow to the damaged leg.
Prevention
To avert a condition like PAD, major lifestyle changes have to be made. Which include –
Dr. Robbie George | Chief of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery | Mazumdar Shaw Medical Center, Bommasandra, Bangalore
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