What Is Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)?

Introduction to Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

What Is Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) also known as Arterial Peripheral Vascular Disease refers to blood vessel diseases outside the heart and brain. It occurs due to the buildup of fatty, cholesterol-containing deposits (plaques) on arteries leading to the arms, legs, and feet.

This process is known as atherosclerosis and may block the blood vessels, reducing blood flow and oxygen supply in the affected area.

What Are the Risk Factors of Peripheral Arterial Disease

Major risk factors that increase the risk of developing peripheral arterial disease: Diabetes and Smoking.

Diabetes reduces blood vessel elasticity which affects blood circulation. In addition, it increases blood clotting that may form together with the plaque, leading to a narrower artery.

Smoking thickens the blood and tightens the blood vessels, which impacts blood flow.

Other risk factors that may contribute include

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Family history of peripheral arterial disease
High levels of homocysteine
Age
Obesity

Signs and Symptoms

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Peripheral Arterial Disease

Although many individuals with peripheral artery disease experience little to no symptoms, some may suffer from claudication symptoms. These include leg cramping and muscle pain after strenuous activity and stops at rest. The pain ranges from mild to severe, leading to difficulty walking and performing other physical activities.

Other peripheral arterial disease symptoms include

Diagnosis and Treatment

How to Diagnose Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease diagnosis starts with a thorough physical examination and an understanding of medical history and symptoms.

To identify peripheral arterial disease causes, confirm the diagnosis, and aid in planning specific and appropriate treatment, your vascular specialist may use the following tests:

Ankle-brachial index (ABI) test – This compares the blood pressure in the ankle and arm before and after exercising to check blood flow.

Doppler ultrasound – This peripheral arterial disease ultrasound test uses sound waves to detect areas of poor blood circulation through an artery.

Angiogram – Also known as a peripheral angiogram, this peripheral arterial disease screening exam requires injection of contrast dye to display clear artery X-ray images and look for blockages.

What Are Treatments for Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease treatment goals include managing symptoms and improving artery health to prevent severe complications such as heart attack and stroke.

Effective treatments for early-stage symptoms may include:

Lifestyle Changes
- Quit smoking
- Eat a healthy and low-fat diet
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes
- Monitor Foot Health
- Wear well-fitting shoes and thick, dry socks
Medications
- Anti-cholesterol drugs to lower plaque buildup.
- Anti-hypertensive drugs prevent stiff arteries.
- Pain medications to treat leg pain.

These medications may help slow the disease progression. However, proper consultation with a vascular and endovascular specialist is essential to achieve desired treatment outcomes.

For late-stage PAD, the following minimally-invasive and invasive procedures may be necessary to treat claudication symptoms and increase blood flow:

Angioplasty and stent insertion – This minimally-invasive procedure widens blocked arteries using a balloon catheter, a thin, flexible tube with a balloon at the tip. It requires guiding and inflating the catheter to press fatty deposits and blood clots to the side or along the artery walls. Then, a wire mesh or stent is inserted to keep the artery open and prevent plaque buildup.

Atherectomy – This treatment is performed with angioplasty and involves using a catheter with a laser or sharp blade to remove hard fatty deposits.

Leg bypass surgery – This invasive surgery is the most effective treatment for advanced peripheral arterial disease. It requires creating a new path or tube to restore leg and foot blood circulation by bypassing the narrow artery. This new path is called a graft and can either be a vein from the leg, arm, or an artificial tube.

Consult a vascular specialist for an accurate diagnosis and a suitable personalised and specific treatment plan to prevent the peripheral arterial disease from worsening.

Prevention

How to Prevent Peripheral Arterial Disease

Legs and feet arteries are usually the most commonly affected body part in PAD. It may affect everyday tasks due to chronic leg pain, sores, and weakness. As a result, prevention starts with regular physical activities involving the lower extremities to improve circulation and prevent atherosclerosis.

Here are other practical PAD prevention tips

Conclusion

Certain risk factors that mainly contribute to PAD, such as smoking, diabetes, and hypertension, can exacerbate the symptoms and impact heart health. As a result, the understanding and awareness of what is peripheral arterial disease, its causes, symptoms, and treatments are the initial steps in improving overall health. The next crucial one is to be vigilant about regular check-ups and screening to allow prompt treatment and reduce the risk of serious complications.

If you’re experiencing leg weakness, painful cramping, and other symptoms, consult a vascular surgeon for an accurate diagnosis and comprehensive and personalised treatment plan.