WHO IS AT RISK FOR PAD?
Basically, everyone is at risk for PAD, but this is not cause for alarm.
Risk is a normal part of life, and we experience it every time we drive a car or cross the street. In the case of PAD the basic risk that everyone experiences is elevated by a variety of factors, and when several of those factors converge it almost assures that a person has or will develop the disease. It is important that you understand what they are.
OVER 50
People over the age of 50 run a higher risk of either already having or developing PAD.
RISK LEVEL
Getting checked out by a Vascular Specialist is key in identifying a person’s individual risk level.
MEN
Men are more likely to have or develop PAD.
GENDER
The disease is not gender specific, however, so a diagnosis from a qualified specialist is key, regardless of gender.
SMOKERS
Smokers–even ex-smokers–are four times more likely to have or develop PAD.
DIABETES
Persons with diabetes have an increased risk of PAD, and one out of every three people over the age of 50 with diabetes will have PAD.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Persons with high blood pressure have an increased risk of PAD.
HIGH CHOLESTEROL
High cholesterol and fat in your blood contribute to the formation of plaque in the arteries, reducing or blocking blood flow to your heart, brain, or limbs.
HISTORY OF VASCULAR DISEASE
A personal history of vascular disease, heart attack, or stroke means you have a one in three chance of also having P.A.D.
AFRICAN AMERICAN
African Americans are twice as likely to have P.A.D. as their white counterparts.
RISKS
Approximately 8 million people in the U.S. risk losing their mobility due to PAD.
MOBILITY
The symptoms can lead people to move less and less, or not at all.
HEART ATTACK AND STROKE
People with PAD are also at higher risk for having a heart attack or stroke.
CONDITIONS THAT RAISE RISK
Most people with PAD have one or more conditions or habits that raise the risk for heart disease: smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or high blood cholesterol.
LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS
Even though PAD is a very serious condition, sometimes lifestyle adjustments are all that is needed.
TREATMENT
If treatment is necessary, it is an amazingly fast, minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure.