Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a serious condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the arms and especially legs. It affects millions of people and can, in severe cases, lead to amputation if left untreated.
Signs and Symptoms
Dr. Anahita Dua with Foundation Vascular Surgery says there are signs to watch for. “The two main symptoms associated with PAD are pain in your legs and pain that’s persisting even though you’re not doing anything,” she explains. “For example, if you’re just lying in bed and your foot is throbbing hurting, that’s something called ‘rest pain’ and that falls into a category of PAD called critical limb ischemia.”
Dr. Dua says there are signs other than pain that can also signify a lack of blood flow. “Other signs of PAD, specifically critical limb ischemia, can be a wound you have on the foot that’s not healing. The wound should heal after a particular set of time and if it’s not, or taking way too long to heal, that may be a sign that you do not have enough blood flow and you have critical limb ischemia under the umbrella of PAD.”
Who’s At Risk?
When it comes to PAD, there are certain lifestyle factors and health conditions that can put you at risk. As Dr. Dua explains, “The people that are most at risk for PAD are those that are smokers, have high blood pressure, and have had any history of vascular disease, for example a stroke or a heart attack.” Individuals who are over the age of 50 are also more likely to experience PAD, as well as those with diabetes.
Prevention and Treatment
There are things we can do to lower our risk of PAD and improve our overall vascular health. These include getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and quitting smoking.
These lifestyle changes can also help improve symptoms, especially if you have early peripheral artery disease. “Depending on the type of PAD you have, whether it’s the kind where it hurts when you walk, or the kind where you actually have tissue damage, we do different things for you to ensure you get that blood flow and we can save those legs,” says Dr. Dua. Other forms of treatment may include medications or vascular surgery.
Don’t Wait to Seek Help
Dr. Dua encourages anyone who is experiencing symptoms of PAD to seek help right away. She says it’s imperative that you see a vascular surgeon as soon as possible because ‘time is tissue.’ “The longer you wait to see us, the more tissue on that foot will die off. So, our job is to stop things in their tracks,” she says. “I can move quickly to get you that blood flow so we can ensure that your leg is not threatened, and your life is not threatened.”
