Understanding Peripheral Arterial Disease

It is important to learn about the risks and symptoms of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). Most mild cases of PAD can be treated with lifestyle changes and medication. However, if the disease has progressed to a more serious stage, it will require surgical or interventional procedures in order to restore blood flow to the legs, feet and toes. A physician will help determine the stage of disease and can recommend the best therapeutic options for each patient.

Know Your Risks

Peripheral Arterial Disease affects about 27 million people in North America and Europe. It is prevalent in 12-20 percent of the population aged 65 and older, with men having a greater risk than women. PAD is a marker for systemic atherosclerotic disease. Persons with PAD, compared to those without, have a 4-5 times higher risk of dying of a cardiovascular event, such a heart attack or stroke. Persons with PAD, even those who do not report leg pain, have impaired function and quality of life. Other factors that increase your chances of developing this disease include:

• Smoking
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol or triglycerides
• High levels of homocysteine, an amino acid in your blood
• Weighing over 30 percent more than your ideal weight

Watch For Symptoms

PAD is a progressive disease; however, only 10 percent of patients complain of the classic symptom of Intermittent Claudication (IC), discomfort or pain in the legs that occurs when walking and goes away when resting. About 50 percent of people have a variety of other symptoms such as tightness, heaviness, cramping, or weakness felt with activity. IC often occurs more quickly when walking uphill or up a flight of stairs. Over time, IC may be felt at shorter walking distances. About 40 percent of patients do not experience any symptoms or attribute their symptoms to "old age".

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is an advanced symptom of PAD. In this stage the symptoms are noticeable. CLI occurs when legs do not get enough oxygen even when at rest. With critical limb ischemia, pain may be experienced in feet or in toes even when not actively walking. Painful sores may develop on the legs, feet or toes. If the circulation in the leg does not improve, these ulcers can start as dry, gray, or black sores and eventually become dead tissue (called gangrene) that requires amputation (surgical removal of the leg, feet or toes).