Peripheral Arterial Disease is a functional impairing disease caused by the narrowing of arteries that, in turn, reduce oxygen and blood flow to the limbs. PAD refers to atherosclerotic and thromboembolic process that affect the aorta, its visceral arterial branches, and arteries of the lower extremities. Atherosclerosis occurs when fatty plaques are deposited on the walls of arteries, causing a narrow arterial opening which reduces or constricts blood flow. A thromboembolism is a clot in a blood vessel. Overall, the outlook for Peripheral Arterial Disease is quite good, but there are increasing risks of having a CVA (Stroke) or a MI (heart attack), as well as, in rare cases- amputation of one or more extremities. .
Symptoms of PAD can start out minimal, such as cramping in your legs or feet and overtime can become debilitating and produce increasing risks of heart attack and stroke. The Mayo Clinic lists the most common symptoms as: intermittent claudication, or cramping calf pain caused by walking, numbness or weakness in the lower extremities, coldness in lower leg or foot- especially on one side of the body, sores on your toes, feet, or legs that will not heel, a change in color or hair loss on your feet or legs, slower toenail growth, and shiny skin. Another more serious symptom listed is no pulse or a weak pulse in your legs or feet. This is definitely an emergent symptom.
Doctors may diagnose Peripheral Arterial Disease by conducting a basic physical exam. The doctor will check for weak or absent pulse, take into account the patients medical history, and complaints of the symptoms in compliance with symptoms matching the disease. A doctor might order an ultrasound (Doppler), conduct an angiogram, take an Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), or collect lipid and serum glucose levels to check for hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus. The Ankle-Brachial Index is used to compare the systolic blood pressure in the upper and lower limbs for indication of obstruction.
