Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a type of peripheral vascular disease. PAD is usually related to plaque buildup, which causes narrowed arteries and reduced blood flow to the limbs, typically the legs. Early detection is crucial to prevent complications such as non-healing skin ulcers, severe infections, or amputation.
And, if you have fatty deposits (atherosclerosis) in the peripheral arteries, your risk of plaque buildup in other arteries, like those that supply the heart or brain, increases your risk of heart attack or stroke.
Our team at Premier Cardiology Consultants serves NYC with top-level interventional cardiovascular care, including conditions that affect your peripheral arteries. Here’s our professional insight regarding who needs PAD screening and what you can expect during the study.
Not everyone needs routine screening for PAD. During your initial evaluation at Premier Cardiology Consultants, we carefully assess your medical history, family history, and current symptoms that may suggest issues such as PAD.
However, we typically recommend screening for anyone who falls into any of the following categories:
If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a history of smoking, you are at a higher risk for PAD and should consider screening.
Aging naturally increases the risk of PAD. Even without additional risk factors, age-related inflammatory processes, injury, and other conditions that damage blood vessels can also cause PAD.
Leg pain while walking (claudication) that improves with rest is a warning sign of PAD. Depending on which arteries are involved, you may also experience discomfort in the hips and thighs or cramping pain in the arms.
While the pain may come and go initially, it can become constant as the condition worsens.
Sores on your feet and legs that take a long time to heal may suggest poor circulation due to PAD. Other skin changes associated with PAD affecting the legs (most common) include color changes, hair loss, and slow-growing toenails.
If close relatives have suffered from heart disease or stroke, you’re at an increased risk of PAD. Our team also recommends PAD screening if you have a personal history of heart disease.
PAD screening typically includes:
Weak pulses in your feet and legs could indicate circulation concerns, including PAD.
Labs to check your cholesterol, blood sugar, and inflammation levels are often part of PAD screening.
This simple test compares blood pressure readings in your ankle to those in your arm (brachial artery). We may recommend walking on a treadmill for a few moments to evaluate the ABI before and after exercise.
This painless in-office study uses sound wave technology (Doppler ultrasound) to visualize blood flow through the arteries and detect narrowing or blockages.
Our team develops individualized treatment plans that reduce your symptoms and focus on improving artery health.
You may benefit from lifestyle changes such as improving diet and exercise habits. We may also recommend medication to lower blood pressure or cholesterol levels. We also suggest tight control of conditions that increase your risk of arterial damage, such as diabetes.
Severe PAD may require surgical intervention such as minimally invasive balloon angioplasty and stent placement or bypass surgery to improve blood flow in the affected leg.
Don’t ignore PAD symptoms. Schedule a visit at Premier Cardiology Consultants today.
