Symptoms and Diagnosis of Peripheral Artery Disease

Have you been feeling pain in your legs for what seems like no reason? Are you experiencing leg cramping after walking or climbing stairs?  If you have the slightest suspicion something is off, it is a good idea to get a screening for peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a circulatory disorder that occurs when your extremities aren’t receiving sufficient blood flow due to blocked arteries. PAD is caused when arteries become clogged by cholesterol, which eventually turns into plaque on the walls of your arteries. The plaque prevents blood from flowing through your arteries which ultimately becomes atherosclerosis, a condition that causes peripheral artery disease.

PAD is a common disease affecting more than 8 million Americans. While some have notable symptoms, others don’t even know they have the condition. If left untreated, PAD can lead to gangrene and amputation in severe cases and is associated with, coronary artery disease, heart attack, or blood clots.

Symptoms

People who suffer from PAD may experience:

• Pain in hips, thighs, or calf muscles
• Leg numbness
• Abnormal cold or numb feet
• Sores on toes or feet that won’t heal
• Change in extremity skin tone
• Hair loss on legs, feet, or toes

Most patients do not experience any symptoms of PAD or mistake them for something else which is why screening is so important.

Risks

Peripheral artery disease is more common in patients who smoke, who are over 50, have diabetes or high cholesterol.

Screening and Treatment at CORA for PAD

Screening for peripheral artery disease can significantly reduce your chances of the disease becoming something more serious. The screening services we provide here at CORA will help you target any issues found in your arteries. It is time to take your cardiovascular health seriously and the professionals at CORA are ready to help.

Call us to make an appointment and talk to one of our Vascular and Interventional Radiologists about PAD. If you are found to have significant PAD, one of our Vascular and Interventional Radiologists can discuss the minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment options available.