Peripheral Artery Disease
More than 1 in 20 U.S. adults in their 40s and older have peripheral artery disease (PAD). If you’re one of them, you’re not alone. Find relief from your symptoms at Reid Health.
Expert care for PAD
Millions of people in the United States have peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD limits blood flow to parts of the body supplied by the peripheral arteries, particularly the arms and legs.
Having PAD increases your risk of heart attack and stroke, and it can seriously impact your quality of life. You could have a hard time walking or even standing without pain. Fortunately, effective treatment can help lower your risk.
What is peripheral artery disease?
You might be familiar with coronary artery disease, which occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries in your heart and limits blood flow. PAD is the same thing, but it occurs in the peripheral arteries, which carry blood away from the heart.
Anyone can develop PAD, but having coronary artery disease is a risk factor for PAD. Likewise, having PAD increases the risk of coronary artery disease. The two share many common risk factors, including:
- Diet high in saturated fat
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking
Left untreated, the condition can limit blood flow to your limbs. Complications of PAD can include gangrene and limb amputation.
Symptoms of peripheral artery disease
Although PAD can affect various parts of the body, it most commonly impacts the lower extremities.
Lower-extremity PAD affects the legs and feet. You might feel leg pain that gets worse when walking. Upper-extremity PAD causes pain and other symptoms in the arms, hands, and fingers.
Other symptoms of PAD might include:
- Bluish or pale skin
- Decreased hair growth or a weak or absent pulse in the affected extremity
- Muscle pain, numbness, or heaviness
- Poor nail growth
- Slow-healing or nonhealing wounds or sores
Why choose Reid Health
The right place for peripheral artery disease care
Our specialists have experience in many vascular diseases, including PAD. They know how important it is to diagnose and treat PAD early to keep it from causing serious damage to your health. Your team will combine medical care with exercise and other specialized therapies to help you avoid serious health effects and regain a better quality of life.
PAD treatments at Reid
Treatment for PAD depends on how advanced your condition is and other factors. You might benefit from:
- Lifestyle changes: Quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, losing weight, and exercising can help reduce PAD symptoms in the condition’s early stages.
- Medications: Medications can help treat conditions that cause or worsen PAD, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Medications can also help with leg pain and prevent complications, such as heart attacks and strokes.
- Supervised or home exercise programs: Movement can help improve circulation and relieve symptoms. Your therapist will design a program based on your needs.
Heart & Vascular Care
Are you at risk for PAD?
Reid Health Heart & Vascular Center offers simple screening tests that can detect PAD early, before symptoms appear, and help us find the right treatment for you and your lifestyle.
Surgery for PAD
Our vascular surgeons offer advanced procedures that can help when nonsurgical care no longer reduces your symptoms. They typically perform two procedures to improve blood flow in your legs or arms:
- Angioplasty: Angioplasty uses a balloon to open narrowed arteries. A small mesh tube called a stent is sometimes placed to keep the artery open.
- Bypass surgery: Bypass surgery creates a new path for blood to travel around a blocked artery.