Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a circulatory condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, most often the legs.
🦵 What Is Peripheral Artery Disease?
PAD is caused by atherosclerosis — the buildup of plaque in arteries that supply blood to your arms and legs. It makes it harder for blood to reach your muscles, especially during physical activity.
⚠️ Causes & Risk Factors
- Atherosclerosis (main cause)
- Smoking 🚬 (biggest risk factor)
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
- Age 50+
- Family history of vascular disease
🩺 Symptoms of PAD
Common:
- Leg pain when walking (claudication): aching or cramping in the calves, thighs, or hips
- Numbness or weakness in legs
- Cold legs or feet
- Sores or wounds that won’t heal
- Shiny skin or hair loss on legs
- Weak or absent pulse in legs or feet
Severe (advanced PAD):
- Pain at rest
- Gangrene (tissue death)
- Risk of amputation
🧪 Diagnosis
- Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) – compares blood pressure in ankle and arm
- Doppler Ultrasound – checks blood flow in arteries
- Angiography – detailed imaging of blood vessels
- CT or MR Angiography – non-invasive vessel scans
💊 Treatment Options
🩹 Lifestyle Changes
- Quit smoking immediately
- Exercise regularly (walking programs improve symptoms)
- Healthy diet – low in saturated fats and cholesterol
- Weight control
- Diabetes and blood pressure management
💊 Medications
- Statins – lower cholesterol
- Antiplatelets – prevent blood clots (e.g., aspirin, clopidogrel)
- Blood pressure meds
- Medications to improve walking (e.g., cilostazol)
🛠️ Procedures/Surgery
- Angioplasty + Stenting – opens narrowed arteries
- Bypass Surgery – creates a new path around the blocked artery
- Atherectomy – removes plaque from artery walls
🚨 Complications if Untreated
- Critical limb ischemia (severe lack of blood flow)
- Ulcers, infections, amputations
- Heart attack or stroke (since PAD is a marker of widespread atherosclerosis)
✅ Prevention Tips
- Don’t smoke
- Control diabetes and blood pressure
- Stay active — even walking helps
- Eat heart-healthy foods
- Have regular check-ups, especially after age 50