This is a common health condition in which buildups in the arteries decrease blood flow to the legs and arms. It is called peripheral artery disease (PAD) or peripheral arterial disease. In people with PAD arms and mostly legs do not receive enough blood. As a result, it may lead to pain in the leg when walking and other symptoms.
When this condition happens, you may have fatty deposits in the arteries (atherosclerosis). People with this condition also can have decreased blood flow to the arms, and legs.
Treatment of PAD usually includes exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding tobacco products.
Symptoms
Commonly, people with PAD have mild or no symptoms while others may experience claudication (pain in the leg when walking). In addition, claudication symptoms also include leg muscle cramping, pain, or cramps in the arms. The pain fluctuates from mild to severe and often appears in the calf. In severe cases, walking or performing other physical activities becomes difficult. Check below for other PAD symptoms:
- Numbness or weakness in the leg
- Weak pulse in the feet or leg
- Painful cramping in one or both hips
- Coldness in the foot or lower leg
- Skin color changes
- Decreased growth of the toenails
- Sores that appear on the feet, legs, or toes
- Hair loss
- Erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Pain when using arms
In case the condition worsens, the pain may occur even when you rest or lie down. Walking or hanging the legs over the bed can help to reduce pain. It is advised to see a doctor if any of the previous symptoms happen.
Causes
In most cases, PAD is provoked by a buildup of fatty substances on the artery walls. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. Thus, deposits in the arteries lead to less blood flow. This health condition can occur anywhere in the body and it is commonly the primary cause of peripheral artery disease.
Check other PAD causes below:
- Arms or leg injuries
- Inflammation of the blood vessels
- Muscles or ligament changes
- Radiation exposure
Risk Factors
PAD can negatively affect anyone, especially smokers and those who have diabetes. Check below other peripheral artery disease risk factors:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Family history of PAD, heart disease, or stroke
- Increased cholesterol levels in the blood
- High homocysteine (an amino acid that could elevate your risk of coronary artery disease)
- Obesity
- People over 65 years old are more prone to develop this condition
What Are The Possible Peripheral Artery Disease Complications?
If you ignore this condition, you may experience some complications. Examples include:
- Stroke
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- Critical limb ischemia (a disease that provokes the tissue to die)
Discuss with your healthcare professional if any of the previous complications occur.
How to Prevent Peripheral Artery Disease?
The only way to prevent this artery disease is to keep a healthy lifestyle. For example:
- Quit smoking or never start
- Keep under control your blood sugar
- Avoid foods high in saturated fats
- Regular exercise
- Try to lose and keep a healthy weight
- Manage existing health problems (such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and others)
Diagnosis
Before diagnosis, doctors will ask you some questions about symptoms and medical history. Usually, people with PAD have either partially or completely no pulse in the affected body part. In addition, you may need to do some tests to confirm the condition. These include:
- Blood tests – These tests help your doctor to determine underlying conditions for PAD. For example elevated cholesterol levels in the blood, high triglycerides, diabetes, or others.
- Ultrasound – During this test, physicians usually use a special device that helps to unblock narrowed arteries and see how blood flows through the arteries.
- Angiography – In such cases, healthcare providers use special tests to make detailed images that help to identify artery blockages. For example MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT (computed tomography) scans.
- Ankle-branchial index (ABI) – This is one of the most common tests used to diagnose PAD. It involves blood pressure measurement before and after physical activity. Doctors may ask you to walk on a treadmill during testing.
Treatment
Commonly, lifestyle changes are enough to get rid of this condition. However, medicines are prescribed by doctors to treat the underlying cause of PAD. One of the most important lifestyle changes is to quit smoking. This will help to reduce the symptoms and risk of complications.
Medicines
In case a person experiences symptoms due to PAD, doctors can prescribe any of the following medications. Examples include:
- Blood pressure medicines – If you do not keep under control blood pressure, it may lead to stiffness of the arteries. As a result, the blood flow is slowed.
- Cholesterol medicines – It is advised also to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. In case you have increased levels of cholesterol in the blood, physicians usually prescribe statins. If you ignore this health problem it may lead to myocardial infarctions, strokes, and other conditions.
- Drugs used to control blood sugar – It is very important to maintain healthy blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Otherwise, it also can lead to some unpleasant complications.
- Painkillers – Physicians commonly recommend Cilostazol to relieve leg pain. It works by widening blood vessels and thinning the blood. Diarrhea and headaches are the most common adverse reactions noticed in people who use this medicine. They can also prescribe a similar medicine (such as Pentoxifylline) but it does not work as well as Cilostazol.
- Blood clots medicines – A person with PAD is at higher risk of developing blood clots. Therefore, physicians can prescribe Aspirin or Clopidogrel to improve blood flow and prevent blood clot formation.
Other Treatment Options
Sometimes, people require a more advanced treatment for claudication due to PAD. For example surgery, angioplasty, or therapies. For example:
- Thrombolytic therapy – During this procedure, the patient receives a clot-dissolving injection directly into the negatively affected artery. This therapy is usually done when a blood clot blocks the artery.
- Bypass surgery – In such cases, surgeons will replace the affected artery with a blood vessel from other body parts or a synthetic one.
- Angioplasty and stent placement – This procedure can help doctors diagnose and treat a blocked blood vessel simultaneously. It involves a tube (catheter) that helps to unclog arteries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary PAD symptom?
When the disease occurs, it provokes leg pain, discomfort, or cramps. Symptoms can happen during physical activity or even when you rest.
Is it possible to cure peripheral artery disease?
Unfortunately, there is no way to cure this condition, but with proper treatment, you can reduce the symptoms and prevent complications. Talk with a healthcare professional for more details.
What foods should be avoided by people with PAD?
- Foods high in sodium (such as processed meats, salty snacks, and others)
- Products high in trans fats
- You should also avoid consuming butter, palm and coconut oils, and red meat because they are high in saturated fats.
Previous foods can worsen PAD and provoke symptoms. Ask your healthcare provider if you have additional questions.
