Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a cardiovascular condition caused by plaque buildup in the arteries in your limbs that causes the arteries to become narrower, restricting blood flow.
While PAD is a long-term health condition, it can be treated and managed. Here’s a closer look at this cardiovascular disease.
What Are the Signs of PAD?
The most common symptom of PAD is leg pain (claudication). Many people experience cramping or muscle pain when they’re walking or performing other physical activities involving leg movement.
Additionally, individuals with PAD may also experience:
- Leg numbness
- Discoloration in the legs
- Hair loss on the toes or legs
- Slower toenail growth
- Erectile dysfunction
How Is PAD Diagnosed?
Diagnosing PAD may involve multiple stages. The first signs of the illness are typically detected during a physical examination. Your physician may notice an absent or weak pulse or hear whooshing sounds through their stethoscope. If they suspect PAD, you’ll most likely be asked to get an ankle-brachial index test or ultrasound done.
You may also require an angiography for more conclusive results. This test lets doctors observe the circulation within your arteries using an injectable dye and imaging techniques. Finally, blood tests are also usually required to determine your triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
How Is PAD Treated?
So, how is the condition treated once it’s been accurately diagnosed? Physicians use various strategies to treat PAD. The treatment objectives are to reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack and improve the patient’s quality of life. For this, physicians may turn to the following treatments, depending on the extent of symptoms or the specifics of the case:
- Medications: You may be prescribed a combination of anti-clotting, sugar-controlling, cholesterol-lowering, blood pressure-lowering, and symptom-relieving medications.
- Supervised Exercise Programs: Supervised exercise helps relieve leg pain and improves your ability to walk. It’s usually recommended for patients with severe claudication symptoms.
- Lifestyle Adjustments: You’ll be asked to adopt healthier dietary and exercise habits. Lifestyle adjustmentsalso include quitting smoking, practicing stress-relieving techniques, and managing other health conditions.
- Surgical or Invasive Procedures: If the aforementioned treatments aren’t enough to treat your condition, you’ll require surgical intervention. This includes procedures such as balloon angioplasty, atherectomy, and peripheral artery bypass.
If you or someone you love suffers from peripheral artery disease and is looking for a doctor, visit the Houston Physicians’ Hospital website today. We offer comprehensive heart and vascular solutions, along with neurosurgery, joint pain treatments, and essential tremor treatments.
Visit our website to learn more about our specialty hospital in Houston and find a doctor who’s right for you.