Intro:
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a chronic condition where plaque build-up or hardening of the arteries can lead to reduced blood flow to certain parts of the body.
Symptoms:
Often seen in the legs, symptoms of PAD depend on the degree of narrowing or blockage in a blood vessel and can include:
- Leg pain or cramping with walking
- Leg pain at rest, especially in the feet and toes
- Leg numbness, weakness, or fatigue
- Non-healing wounds/ulcers
- Discoloration to the toes or gangrene
Risk Factors:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Age
- Sedentary lifestyle/weight
- Family history
Diagnosis:
Peripheral arterial disease is diagnosed based on a thorough history and clinical exam as well as any of the following:
- Non-invasive ultrasound
- CT scan
- An angiogram
Treatment:
Treatment of PAD is often multifactorial and includes:
- Risk Factor Modification:
- Smoking cessation
- Controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes
- Daily Exercise:
- 20-30min/daily
- Medications
- Balloon angioplasty +/- stenting
- Bypass surgery
- Wound care/debridement
