What is Peripheral Arterial Disease and How Do You Treat It
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a common and often under-diagnosed medical condition. It affects about 12 million Americans and can be fatal if it goes untreated. In this blog we will cover all the information you need to understand PAD and we will review peripheral arterial disease treatment options.
What is PAD?
PAD occurs when the blood flow to the limbs decreases, causing them to feel pain or become numb. If left untreated, PAD can lead to heart problems such as angina or heart attack because of reduced oxygen supply to the rest of your body. Fortunately, there are ways you can treat this condition before it becomes dangerous!
Who is at risk for PAD?
Anyone can develop this condition. Those who are most likely to suffer from it include: those over the age of 50, smokers or former smokers, people with high blood pressure and diabetes, obese individuals and those with a family history of coronary artery disease (CAD). Risk factors such as these can increase your chances of developing PAD.
What are the symptoms?
One of the main signs that patients experience is a cramping or pain in their legs when walking, which eventually subsides after resting for some time. Another symptom includes numbness and/or cold skin on both sides of your leg(s) from knee down to toes. You may also experience leg fatigue or pain, which increases during physical activity.
How is it diagnosed?
To diagnose PAD, your doctor will take a detailed patient history and conduct an examination of the lower limbs to check for any signs associated with this condition. They may perform additional tests such as x-rays or ultrasounds if they suspect that the patient has PAD.
What are treatment options?
Depending on your condition, you may be able to treat it with medication and lifestyle changes like exercise or dietary adjustments. You doctor will determine which course of action is best for you during an examination!
Call Ecco Medical today at (720) 668-8818 to get started!