Peripheral Arterial Disease Care

What You Need To Know About PAD

Learn how peripheral arterial disease affects your feet and how we can help.

Understanding Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a condition that causes the walls of the arteries in your legs to narrow so less blood reaches your lower legs and feet. This type of poor circulation is due to atherosclerosis, the buildup of cholesterol deposits along the walls of your blood vessels.

PAD is the most common sign of atherosclerosis, although arteries throughout your body can be affected. When PAD affects the blood vessels in your heart, it is called coronary artery disease or heart disease. Peripheral arterial disease affects 8 to 12 million Americans and one in every five adults over the age of 70.

Symptoms of PAD can vary from mild discomfort to serious complications, including muscles in your feet and legs feeling tired, pain in your legs, thighs, and buttocks, foot or toe pain when you are at rest or sleeping, slow healing skin wounds or ulcers, and cramping sensations in the legs and feet.

Since peripheral arterial disease symptoms can be mild, many people may think they are experiencing general muscle aches or weakness related to aging. Persons with coronary artery disease are frequently found to also have peripheral vascular disease, and conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and renal disease increase your risk.

If you experience these symptoms, it is best to be seen by our providers for a thorough exam and treatment if needed. Early diagnosis helps prevent future issues, like ulceration, gangrene, and amputation.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

To diagnose PAD, you have a quick and painless test to assess the blood vessels in your legs. This test is called a doppler ultrasound and takes just a couple of minutes to complete. Based on your test results, your provider can recommend an appropriate treatment plan to relieve your symptoms and improve your circulation when possible.

A podiatrist is the right doctor to diagnose peripheral vascular disease because of how much it impacts your feet, ankles, and lower legs. Your doctor will begin by doing a visual and hands-on exam of your lower extremities and reviewing your medical history. Your pulse, skin condition, and any lower limb deformities will be evaluated.

If further testing is needed, you may have an Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) to compare blood pressure in your arms and ankles, a doppler ultrasound to assess blood flow and blockages, or angiography, an imaging test used with contrast dye to study the blood vessels in your legs, ankles, and feet.

All cases of PAD can benefit from healthy lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking, increasing your activity level, and maintaining a healthy weight. If conservative measures are not enough, your provider can prescribe medications to lower blood pressure or cholesterol, manage blood sugar, or prevent blood clots. Different surgical options are also available depending on the location and severity of the blockage, and your provider can discuss all of your options to determine the best course of treatment and help you find lasting relief from poor circulation.