Description

Peripheral arterial disease (pad) is a common condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the arms or legs.

This condition can also be called peripheral arterial disease.

In the eap, legs, or arms — usually your legs — don't receive enough blood flow to meet the demand. This can cause pain in the legs when walking, called claudication, and other symptoms.

The peripheral arterial disease is usually a sign of a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis.

The treatment of the eap includes exercising, eating healthy foods, and not smoking or using tobacco.

Symptoms

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) may cause no symptoms or the symptoms may be mild. The PAD of the symptoms include:

  • Leg pain when walking.
  • Muscle pain or cramps in the arms or legs, often in the calf.
  • Muscle pain in the arms or in the legs that begins with the year and ending with the rest.
  • Painful cramping in one or both of the hips, thighs or calves after walking or climbing stairs, or other activities.
  • Pain of the use of weapons, such as pain and cramp when knitting or writing.
  • The coldness in the lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other side.
  • Leg numbness or weakness.
  • No pulse or a weak pulse in your legs or feet.

The muscle pain in peripheral arterial disease can be:

  • Be mild to extreme.
  • You wake up from your dream.
  • Make it difficult to walk or exercise.
  • Occur during rest or when lying down if the condition is severe.

Other symptoms of PAD can include:

  • Shiny skin on the legs.
  • The color of the skin changes in the legs.
  • Slow growth of the nails of the feet.
  • Sores on your toes, feet or legs that won't heal.
  • Hair loss or slower hair growth on the legs.
  • Erectile dysfunction.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment for a health checkup if you have the arm or leg pain, or other symptoms of peripheral arterial disease.

Causes

Peripheral arterial disease (pad) is often caused by a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the walls of the arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. The buildup is called plaque. The plate can cause the arteries to become narrow, by blocking the flow of blood. In the eap, the plaque builds up in the arteries of the arms or legs.

Less common causes of the platform are:

  • The swelling and irritation of the blood vessels.
  • Injuries to the arms or legs.
  • The changes in the muscles or ligaments.
  • The exposure to radiation.

Risk factors

Risk factors for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) include:

  • A family history of peripheral arterial disease, heart disease or a stroke.
  • Diabetes.
  • The high blood pressure.
  • High cholesterol.
  • Increasing age, especially after 65 years of age or after 50 if you have risk factors for atherosclerosis.
  • Obesity.
  • The habit of smoking.

Complications

Complications of peripheral artery disease (PAD) caused by atherosclerosis include:

  • Critical limb ischemia. In this condition, an injury or infection causes the death of the tissue. Symptoms include open sores on the limbs that do not heal. The treatment may include the amputation of the affected limb.
  • The stroke, and heart attack. The buildup of plaque in the arteries can also affect the blood vessels in the heart and the brain.

Prevention

The best way to prevent pain in the leg due to peripheral artery disease (PAD) is to have a healthy lifestyle. What it means:

  • Do not smoke.
  • Eat foods that are low in sugar, trans fats and saturated fats.
  • Get regular exercise — but you should check with your health care team about what kind and what amount is best for you.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Manage your blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes.
  • Sleep well.
  • Control stress.

Diagnosis

To diagnose peripheral arterial disease (pad), a professional of the health examination. Normally you have questions about your symptoms and medical history.

If you have peripheral artery disease, the pulse in the affected area may be weak or non-existent.

Tests

Tests to diagnose peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or verification of the conditions that cause may include:

  • Blood tests. Blood tests are performed to verify that the things that increase the risk of PAD, such as high cholesterol and high blood sugar.
  • Ankle-brachial index (ABI). This is a test that is used to diagnose PAD. It compares the blood pressure in your ankle with the blood pressure in the arm. You may be asked to walk on a treadmill. Blood pressure readings can be taken before and immediately after exercise to verify the arteries during the march.
  • Ultrasound of the legs or feet. Sound waves create images of how the blood moves through the blood vessels of the legs or feet. The Doppler ultrasound is a special type of ultrasound is used to detect blocked or narrowing of the arteries.
  • The angiography. This test uses imaging tests and a dye to look for blockages in the arteries. The dye is given through a blood vessel. This helps the arteries are shown more clearly in the test images.

Treatment

The goals of treatment for peripheral artery disease (PAD) are:

  • Manage the symptoms, such as pain in the leg, so that the exercise is comfortable.
  • Improve artery health to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other complications.

The treatment for peripheral arterial disease may include:

  • Life-style changes.
  • Of medicine.
  • Surgery.

Lifestyle changes can help improve symptoms, especially if you have early peripheral artery disease. Such changes include:

  • Do not smoke or use tobacco.
  • Get regular exercise.
  • Eat a healthy diet.

Drugs

If you have the symptoms or complications of peripheral artery disease (PAD), you may need medication.

Medicine for the treatment of peripheral artery disease may include:

  • Statins. These are drugs for lowering "bad" cholesterol. To help reduce the buildup of plaque in the arteries. The drugs also reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
  • Blood pressure medications. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause the arteries stiff and hard. This can reduce the flow of blood. If you have high blood pressure, your health care professional may suggest medications to control it. Ask your health care team what your blood pressure should be.
  • Medication for Diabetes. Diabetes makes you more likely to get PAD. Talk with your health care team about your blood sugar goals and how to reach them.
  • Medicines to prevent blood clots. The reduction of blood flow in the PAD can cause blood clots. Aspirin or other medications, such as clopidogrel (Plavix), can be used to prevent the coagulation of the blood.
  • The pain in the leg of the medicine. A medicine called cilostazol can be used to treat leg pain in people with peripheral arterial disease. The medication increases the blood flow to the area.

Surgeries or other procedures

Sometimes, a surgery or procedure is necessary to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) or of its symptoms.

  • The thrombolytic therapy. If a blood clot blocks an artery, the drug may be administered directly into the affected artery to dissolve the clot.
  • Angioplasty and stent placement. If a narrowed artery is the cause of PAD is pain in the leg, this treatment can help. A small balloon in a tube, called a catheter, is placed in the artery. The balloon is inflated, which makes the artery more spacious. This improves the flow of blood. A small wire mesh tube, called a stent may be placed in the artery to keep the artery open.
  • The Bypass surgery. This surgery creates a new pathway for the flow of blood around a blocked or partially blocked artery. A surgeon takes a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body. The vessel is connected below the blocked artery. The new pathway improves the flow of blood to the muscle.

Lifestyle and home remedies

There are things you can do to help control peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Try these tips to control the PAD and stop the worsening of the symptoms:

  • Do not smoke or use tobacco. Smoking damages the arteries. Increases the risk of peripheral arterial disease. If you have PAD, smoking can worsen the condition. If you smoke and need help quitting, ask your health care team about the methods that can help.
  • Get regular exercise.Regular exercise is an important part of the peripheral artery disease (PAD) treatment. Exercise helps improve blood flow to the arms and legs. So it can improve the symptoms of PAD. Generally, health professionals recommend supervised exercise therapy for people with PAD. It is a program of exercise and education. It can help increase the distance you can walk without pain.
  • Eating nutritious food. Choose plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Reduce the consumption of sugar, salt and saturated fat.
  • Check the labels of the medications. Products containing pseudoephedrine (Advil Cold and Sinus, Claritin-D, others) are often used to treat nasal congestion caused by allergies or colds. But this ingredient tightens the blood vessels. You can increase the PAD of the symptoms.
  • Check position of the leg. Try sleeping with the head of the bed raised a few centimeters. Keep the legs below the level of the heart, in general, reduces the pain. Some people find that hanging their legs over the edge of the bed, or walking can temporarily reduce the pain of the leg.

Get regular exercise. Regular exercise is an important part of the peripheral artery disease (PAD) treatment. Exercise helps improve blood flow to the arms and legs. So it can improve the symptoms of PAD.

Generally, health professionals recommend supervised exercise therapy for people with PAD. It is a program of exercise and education. It can help increase the distance you can walk without pain.

Foot care

It is important to take good care of your feet. The PAD can make it more difficult for cuts and sores on the bottom of the legs and feet to heal. This is especially true if you have the PAD and diabetes.

Here is how to properly care for your feet:

  • Wash your feet every day. Dry them completely.
  • The use of moisturizer on the feet to prevent cracks that can lead to infection. But don't moisturize between the toes of the feet. This may help the fungus to grow.
  • Wear thick, dry socks and shoes that fit well.
  • Promptly treat any fungal infections of the feet, such as athlete's foot.
  • Be careful when cutting the nails of the feet.
  • Check your feet every day for cuts, wounds or other injuries. Consult a health care professional if you find any.
  • Be a foot doctor, called a podiatrist, the treatment of bunions, corns or calluses.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have leg pain or other symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), make an appointment for a health checkup. You may need to see a doctor trained in diseases of the blood vessels, called a vascular specialist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

  • Learn what you need to do before your appointment. Ask if there is something that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet. For example, you may be asked not to eat or drink anything for a couple of hours before a cholesterol test.
  • Write down the symptoms you are experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to peripheral arterial disease.
  • Enter your medical information, including other conditions, and family history of heart disease.
  • Bring a list of medications with you to your appointment. Are the add-ons and any medicines you have bought without a prescription. Also include the dose.
  • Ask a family member or friend to go with you to the appointment, if possible. An extra person can help you remember the details of the appointment.
  • Write down questions to ask your health care team.

For peripheral artery disease (PAD), some basic questions to ask your health care professional are:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • There are other possible causes?
  • What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
  • Is peripheral artery disease temporary or long-term?
  • What treatments are available? Which would I recommend?
  • What are the side effects of the treatment you are suggesting?
  • There are options for the treatment that you are suggesting?
  • What can I do for myself that can help me to get better?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take my house? What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask any other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

A health professional who sees you for the peripheral artery disease (PAD), one might ask:

  • When did the symptoms begin?
  • Do you always have symptoms, or come and go?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
  • Do your symptoms get worse with exercise?
  • Make your symptoms improve when you are at rest?
  • Or do you smoke or use tobacco? If yes, how often?

What you can do in the meantime

If you smoke, stop smoking. Smoking increases the risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and associated diseases, such as stroke and heart attack. Smoking can also make quilted existing worse. If you need help quitting, ask your care team for methods that can help.

Eat less saturated fats and add more fruits and vegetables to your diet are other things that you can do to help prevent or control the PAD.

Symptoms and treatment of Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)