Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when the blood vessels in your legs (and sometimes in your arms) are narrowed and hardened by atherosclerosis — or the accumulation of sticky plaque deposits in the walls of the vessels that carry blood to your extremities.
When it’s spotted early, this progressive condition can be slowed or even stopped. That’s good news, because the more PAD advances, the more havoc it can wreak on your health: Untreated PAD can increase your risk of:
It’s always best to prevent PAD through healthy living. But if you do happen to experience any of its tell-tale symptoms, you can still act to protect your health by seeking a prompt evaluation with our board-certified cardiologists at Sunnyvale Cardiology.
Here’s how PAD can affect your body — and what kind of warning signs you should look out for if you have an increased risk of developing it.
PAD slows the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your extremities. This chronic illness develops gradually — often over decades. Without proper management, it can advance into near-complete arterial blockage that requires bypass surgery, or critical limb ischemia that requires amputation.
PAD affects up to 12 million adults in the United States. Experts also believe that the condition is vastly underdiagnosed, however, meaning millions more Americans may be susceptible to its unchecked progression.
While anyone can develop PAD, the condition is most common in adults who are over the age of 60 and those with a family history of heart disease. These uncontrollable influences aren’t the only factors that can boost your PAD risk, however.
As with other forms of cardiovascular disease, the strongest risk factors for PAD are those you can avoid, modify, or control. These include:
The more “PAD risk factor boxes” you can check, the greater your likelihood of developing this serious condition. Fortunately, understanding your personal risk level is the first step in taking control of your health.
PAD affects the lower extremities (legs and feet) most often. See our team if you experience any of the following PAD warning signs:
Painful leg cramping that happens during activity and eases with rest is a common early PAD symptom. Known as intermittent claudication, these painful cramps are a signal from your leg muscles that they aren’t getting enough blood and oxygen to support increased activity.
PAD may randomly trigger sporadic “pins-and-needles” sensations in your legs or feet, or burning pain in your feet when you’re resting at night. While the first stage of PAD has no noticeable symptoms, the second stage is marked by intermittent claudication, and the third stage can cause ongoing leg pain at rest (ischemic pain).
Ongoing poor circulation in the lower extremities can give rise to physical changes in the tissues that no longer receive a sufficient supply of blood, oxygen, and nutrients. When you reach this fourth stage of PAD, you may notice:
When PAD affects your arms, its symptoms are comparable — starting with intermittent claudication (activity-related cramps) and progressing to pins-and-needles sensations, resting arm pain, and signs of poor circulation.
PAD progresses over many years, and symptoms typically don’t emerge until arteries are substantially narrowed — often by 60% or more. One-quarter of people with PAD have obvious symptoms, and 50% don’t have any symptoms at all.
That’s why it’s so important to understand your personal PAD risk, know how to spot the warning signs if your risk is higher than average, and to seek expert care if you’re concerned.
Luckily, the same targeted lifestyle changes that can help prevent PAD can also slow its progression. We recommend:
Effective chronic disease management is also vital if you’re living with diabetes, kidney disease, high cholesterol, and/or hypertension.
Are you worried about PAD? We’re here to help. Call or click online to schedule a visit at Sunnyvale Cardiology in Sunnyvale, Texas, today.
