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Peripheral Arterial Disease Guidelines

According to the American Heart Association, peripheral arterial disease affects approximately eight million Americans. Between 12 and 20 percent of people in the U.S. over the age of 65 are affected by peripheral arterial disease. Diagnosing peripheral arterial disease early is extremely important because individuals with PAD have four to five times as high a risk for heart attacks.

  1. Definition

    • According to the Peripheral Arterial Disease Coalition, peripheral arterial disease is the medical term that's used to describe the narrowing of arteries and occurs most often in a person's legs. Arteries become narrow because of fatty deposits and plaque building up on artery walls. The buildup of fatty deposits and plaque on the walls of arteries is referred to as atherosclerosis. People with peripheral arterial disease have decreased blood flow to their legs and arms. Sometimes people with peripheral arterial disease must have their legs amputated.

    Symptoms

    • The Mayo Clinic explains that most people with peripheral arterial disease will either develop no symptoms or will experience mild symptoms. However, one out of nine individuals with peripheral arterial disease will experience pain in their legs while walking. Other symptoms of peripheral arterial disease include painful hip cramps, leg numbness, leg weakness, coldness in the lower leg or foot, leg discoloration, hair loss on legs or feet and changes to toenails.

    Causes

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, atherosclerosis is the most common cause of peripheral arterial disease. Atherosclerosis affects arteries throughout the entire body, not just arteries within the leg. However, when atherosclerosis affects the deliverance of blood to a person's legs, it causes peripheral arterial disease. Other less common causes of peripheral arterial disease include blood clots, injuries to limbs and infections.

    Risk Factors

    • Risk factors for peripheral arterial disease include smoking, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, older age and family history of peripheral arterial disease. Individuals over the age of 50 have an extremely high risk of getting peripheral arterial disease. A lack of physical activity and diets high in saturated fat also increase the risk for atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease.

    Treatment

    • According to the Society of Interventional Radiology, the most common way to treat peripheral arterial disease is to make small lifestyle changes. Smokers can eliminate symptoms associated with peripheral arterial disease by quitting smoking. Creating a well-planned exercise program can also help to alleviate symptoms associated with peripheral arterial disease and prevent the disease from becoming worse. Angiopasting and stenting are another treatment option for peripheral arterial disease. This involves inserting a catheter into the damaged artery and inflating a small balloon to make the artery wider.

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