(PAD) Peripheral artery disease
Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral Arterial Diseases (PAD) is known as atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. If cholesterol, calcium or Blood Clot abruptly breaks from the lining of the artery or if the narrowwd artery blocks off completely, the blood flow gets totally obstructed and the organ supplied by that artery will suffer permanent damage. The organs that are most commonly affected by peripheral arterial disease are the legs.
Symptoms of PAD
- Intermittent Claudication: if there are symptoms like cramping, pain on walking in the hips, thighs or calf muscles that limits even casual walking, and if this pain is relieved with rest, then the condition is called intermittent Claudication.
- Continuous Cramping, pain or Tiredness in the legs and hips muscle while walking.
- Foot or toe wounds that do not heal or are healing very slowly.
- Cold leg & Foot
- Dry, fragile or shiny looking skin
Risk Factors
Smoking
Diabetes
High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol
Increase Age
Family History
Diagnosis
- Ankle/ Brachial Index (ABI) - This noninvasive test compares the blood pressure between the arms and the legs, an abnormal ration may indicated decreased circulation.
- Ultrasound (Doppler) - Ultrasound is a painless noninvasive producer that assess the degree of the arteries and surrounding structure to determine the blood flowing in them.
- Angiography ( DSA) - It is a test in which dye in injected into the artery & X-Ray is taken to show blood flowing in the arteries of legs and indicate any blockages that many be present.
Treatment Options
- Controlling Risk factors and lifestyle changes.
- Medications
- Surgicals options
- Endovascular
- Open surgery