WHAT IS PAD?
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral Arterial Disease–PAD–is a common, yet serious, disease. It occurs when extra fats and cholesterol circulating in the blood collect in the walls of the arteries and reduce or block the flow of blood to your limbs. PAD is most commonly seen in the legs, and nearly everyone who has PAD suffers from an inability to walk as fast or as far as they once could.
Early treatment of P.A.D. can restore your mobility, decrease your risk for heart attack and stroke, and possibly save your life. Often, people experiencing symptoms of PAD–like pain or cramping in the legs–do not report it because they think it is a natural part of aging.
WHAT CAUSES PAD?
Plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the limbs is the cause of PAD, as shown in the illustrations at the right. In many cases, however, the exact cause of this buildup is unknown.
Besides the unknown factors behind plaque buildup, there are also several conditions and habits that raise your chance of developing the disease. Some are preventable. Others are not.
Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body. Healthy arteries are flexible and elastic. Over time, however, too much pressure in your arteries can make the walls thick and stiff — sometimes restricting blood flow to your organs and tissues. This process is called arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.
Atherosclerosis is a specific type of arteriosclerosis, but the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Atherosclerosis refers to the buildup of fats and cholesterol in and on your artery walls (plaques), which can restrict blood flow.
These plaques can also burst, triggering a blood clot. Although atherosclerosis is often considered a heart problem, it can affect arteries anywhere in your body. Atherosclerosis is a preventable and treatable condition.
People who do experience symptoms, such as pain or cramping in the legs, often do not report them, believing they are a natural part of aging or due to another cause. In all, PAD affects 8 to 12 million people in the United States, especially those over 50.
RISKS
Common PAD Risk Factors
- YOUR AGE
Are over the age of 50. - ARE MALE
While women can also develop PAD–with or without any symptoms–the disease predominantly affects men. - SMOKE OR USED TO SMOKE
Smokers and ex-smokers alike have up to four times greater risk of developing PAD. - HAVE DIABETES
One in every three people over the age of 50 with diabetes is likely to have PAD. - HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure significantly raises the risk of developing plaque in the arteries.
- HIGH LEVELS OF CHOLESTEROL
Excess 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
Have a personal history of vascular disease, heart attack, or stroke. If you have heart disease, you have a one in three chance of also having PAD. - ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN
African Americans are more than twice as likely to have PAD as their white counterparts. - BUILDUP
Plaque buildup in the arteries.
SYMPTOMS
Common PAD Symptoms
- Fatigue, heaviness, tiredness, cramping in the leg muscles (buttocks, thigh, or calf) that occurs during activity such as walking or climbing stairs. This pain or discomfort goes away once the activity is stopped and during rest.
- Pain in the legs and/or feet that disturbs sleep.
- Sores or wounds on toes, feet, or legs that heal slowly, poorly, or not at all.
- Color changes in the skin of the feet, including paleness or blueness.
- A lower temperature in one leg compared to the other leg.
- Poor nail growth and decreased hair growth on toes and legs.
- It is vitally important to remember that many people with PAD do not experience ANY symptoms.
YOU CAN LOWER YOUR RISK FOR PAD
Timely detection and treatment of PAD can improve the quality of your life; help you keep your independence and mobility; and reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, leg amputation, and even death.
