Peripheral artery disease (PAD) often goes undetected. But being aware of the warning signs can help you spot PAD early on and get prompt treatment to protect your health.
Peripheral Artery Disease is caused by a thickening of the inside walls of the arteries of your legs. This thickening, called atherosclerosis, usually occurs when a person has high levels of cholesterol, a fat-like substance in the blood. Cholesterol and fat, circulating in the blood, build up on the walls of the arteries and plaque formations can grow large enough to significantly reduce the blood's flow through an artery narrowing the space where the blood can flow and decreases the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the legs and feet. It can affect both legs, but most often symptoms begin in one leg.
Dr. William Julien explains more about PAD in the video below.
It’s important to know the signs of PAD, such as leg pain or heaviness and it is most important to discuss these symptoms with your doctor right away so that you can get be evaluated and begin treatment immediately to reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.
Warning Signs of PAD:
Pain that occurs when you walk and goes away when you stand still. It is important to understand that pain from PAD differs from other conditions because of how and when it occurs. Blockages in the leg can be so severe that blood is not getting to the muscles, and when muscles don't get enough blood, they get painful. This type of leg pain is called intermittent claudication and is one of the main symptoms of PAD. Leg pain can also be an indicator of back or spinal conditions. If your pain stops when you stand still after walking, chances are it’s related to PAD.
Cold feet. A blockage or reduced blood flow to the lower leg muscles can make feet feel noticeably and abnormally cold. You may find that the leg with the blockage feels colder than your other leg.
Discoloration in the legs or feet. Without blood flowing properly through the leg, your foot and toes may become discolored. A common PAD symptom is a foot that appears unusually pale or has a blue tint due to lack of blood flow.
Persistent sores on the feet. If you have wounds on the bottom of your feet that take a long time to heal, this can also be could be a sign of PAD. When blood flow is blocked from reaching an area wounds won’t improve as quickly as they did prior to the blockage or don’t heal at all, making you more prone to foot infections. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms please take answer the questions in our survey to see if you are at risk and contact our office immediately to schedule a consultation with one of our physicians for proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
The Society for Vascular Surgery, the American Podiatric Medical Association and the Society for Vascular Medicine collaboratively have published their first-ever set of clinical practice guidelines for treating the diabetic foot...
Thomas is a retired Registered Nurse who enjoys living an active lifestyle. He plays 18 holes of golf regularly, is an avid fisherman, loves to travel, enjoys taking his dog for long walks,...
If you or a loved one has colorectal cancer that has spread (metastasized) to the liver, it is important to learn the facts and evaluate treatment options. A diagnosis of colorectal liver metastases can be overwhelming, but there is hope...
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a disease in which plaque, the accumulation of fat and cholesterol, builds up in the arteries that carry blood to your head, organs, and limbs. This build of plaque is a condition called atherosclerosis...
39 year old Gabriel Quiroga is an air conditioner contractor. Part of his everyday routine is going house- to -house or business- to -business, where he climbs up ladders get up to roofs, into attics, and other hard to reach areas...
