Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral Artery Disease, or PAD or PVD, is a common circulation problem in which the arteries that carry blood to the legs or arms become narrowed or clogged. This interferes with the normal flow of blood, sometimes causing pain, but often causing no symptoms at all. The most common cause of PAD is atherosclerosis, often called “hardening of the arteries”. Atherosclerosis is a gradual process in which cholesterol and scar tissue build up, forming a substance called “plaque” that clogs the blood vessels. In some cases, PAD may be caused by blood clots that lodge in the arteries and restrict blood flow.

PVD affects about 1 in 20 people over the age of 50, or about 8 million people in the United States. If you are over the age of 50, or have hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol, you run a greater risk of developing PVD. Smokers and those who are overweight or don't exercise regularly are also at risk. Simply ignoring your symptoms is not an option. Many people simply live with their pain, assuming it is a normal part of aging, rather than reporting it to their doctor. Report it to your doctor today.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Lifestyle Changes

In most cases, lifestyle changes can be enough to slow the progression of, or reverse, the disease. Your doctor may suggest that you:

  • Control diabetes
  • Control blood pressure
  • Eat healthy
  • Exercise

Medication

Some people will need to take a cholesterol-lowering medication, or medication that controls high blood pressure. These may be prescribed in addition to lifestyle changes.

Angioplasty

There are a number of procedures that doctors use to open blood vessels at the site of blockages caused by PVD. In many cases, these procedures can be performed without surgery using modern, interventional radiology techniques. Angioplasty is a treatment for peripheral artery disease, angioplasty opens blocked or narrowed blood vessels by inserting a very small balloon into the vessel and inflating it. Angioplasty also is used to unblock clogged arteries in the legs or arms, kidneys, brain or elsewhere in the body.