Jan. 14, 2021 | Peripheral arterial disease is a common condition that affects eight to 12 million people in the United States. PAD develops most commonly as a result of atherosclerosis, or “hardening of the arteries,” which occurs when cholesterol and scar tissue build up, forming a substance called plaque that narrows and clogs the arteries. When this happens, your extremities are left with less blood than they need, a very serious condition. The clogged arteries cause decreased blood flow to the legs, which can result in pain when walking, which can progress to pain at rest and eventually gangrene and amputation. People with PAD often have fatty buildup in the arteries of the heart and the arteries supplying the brain and, as a result, have a higher risk of death from heart attack and stroke. If diagnosed early, PAD can often be treated with exercise and diet. When it’s started early, treatment can slow the progression of the disease and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Jan. 14, 2021 | If you feel a distinct pain or cramping in your calf when you walk for even a short distance, don’t ignore the discomfort, even if it goes away after you’ve stopped walking. That leg pain may be something a lot more serious than you think. One of the classic symptoms of peripheral arterial disease is pain in the muscles of the legs, especially the calves. This pain is known as intermittent claudication, which means “to limp”. While pain in the legs while you are walking may be due to nerve conditions or to musculoskeletal pain, it is important to recognize vascular causes for leg pain. Claudication is a warning sign. Daily exercise is very important when it comes to reducing the pain associated with this condition. Exercise improves the ability of your heart and lungs to deliver oxygen to your muscles. Furthermore, exercise enables your muscles to better utilize the amount of blood flow that it receives and it can help you lose weight so that your legs don’t require as much oxygen.

Jan. 14, 2021 | The most common cause of peripheral arterial disease, a circulatory problem that prevents the flow of blood to the extremities, is atherosclerosis. In atherosclerosis, fatty deposits or plaques build up along the body’s artery walls and obstruct the flow of blood. The walls of arteries become hard and thick and lose their elasticity. Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease that may start in childhood. It is commonly thought of as affecting the heart, but it can affect arteries anywhere in the body. When it affects the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, it can cause severe chest pain, also known as angina. Atherosclerosis can also cause heart attack or coronary artery disease. When it occurs in the arteries in the neck and brain, it can cause a stroke. And when it occurs in the arteries to the limbs, it causes PAD. Poor circulation can also blunt sensation to heat or cold, making you more susceptible to damage from both burns and freezing.

Jan. 14, 2021 | More than half of the people with peripheral arterial disease or PAD experience leg pain but many people dismiss these symptoms as a “normal part of aging” and don’t seek medical help. UAMS vascular surgeon Dr. Mohammed Moursi says that only about half of the people with symptoms have been diagnosed and are seeing a doctor for treatment. Untreated, PAD can lead to amputation, heart attack or stroke. As it progresses, your arteries may become so clogged that pain may even occur when you’re not exercising or when you’re lying down. This is called ischemic rest pain. It may be intense enough to prevent sleep or wake you from sleep. Some of the risk factors for PAD include smoking, diabetes, being overweight and having high blood pressure or high cholesterol. If you have symptoms of PAD, talk to your doctor. Early diagnosis and treatment of PAD is important because it can decrease your risk of heart disease and other health problems.

Jan. 14, 2021 | Treatment for peripheral arterial disease has two major goals. The first is to manage the symptoms, such as leg pain, so that the patient can resume physical activities. The second is to stop the progression of the associated blockages in the other vascular beds or, in other words, to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Many people can accomplish these goals with lifestyle changes, but those changes may not be enough. The doctor may prescribe drugs to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The doctor may also recommend anti-platelet medications, like aspirin, to prevent blood clotting. In some cases a vascular surgeon may use a variety of endovascular techniques to restore blood flow. Balloon angioplasty, stents and laser catheters can be used to clear the arterial blockages. In severe cases, conventional vascular surgery may be required to bypass or replace the diseased blood vessel, allowing blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed artery.