Patient Education | Peripheral Arterial Disease

Vascular Disease

What is peripheral vascular disease?

This refers to diseases to blood vessels outside the heart and brain. It’s a frequently associated with a narrowing of blood vessels that carry blood to the legs, arms, stomach or kidneys. Vascular disease includes any condition that affects your circulatory system. This ranges from diseases of your arteries, veins and lymph vessels to blood disorders that affect circulation. The following are conditions that fall under the category of vascular disease.

  There are two types of these circulation disorders:

·         Functional peripheral vascular diseases don’t have an organic cause. They don’t involve defects in the blood vessels’ structure. Thy’re usually short-term effects related to “spasm” that may come and go. Raynaud’s disease is an example. It can be triggered by cold temperatures, emotional stress, working with vibratign machinery or smoking.

·         Organic peripheral vascualr diseases are caused by structural changes in blood bessels, such as inflammation an dtissue damage. Peripheral artery disease is an example. It’s caused by fatty buildups in arteries that block normal blood flow

Peripheral Artery Disease

What Is Peripheral Arterial Disease?
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when a fatty material called plaque (plak) builds up on the inside walls of the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the head, internal organs, and limbs. PAD is also known as atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease.

 Blocked blood flow can cause pain and numbness. It also can increase a person's chance of getting an infection, and it can make it difficult for the person's body to fight the infection. If severe enough, blocked blood flow can cause tissue death (gangrene). PAD is the leading cause of leg amputation.

 When atherosclerosis affects the major arteries supplying the brain, it is called carotid artery disease. Carotid artery disease can cause a stroke. PAD (atherosclerosis in the arteries that supply blood to the limbs, especially the legs) is a common, yet serious disease. Men are more likely to have symptoms of PAD, but both men and women can develop the disease. PAD can impair physical health and diminish the ability to walk.

In the advanced stages of PAD, blood flow to one or both legs can be completely or mostly blocked. This is known as chronic critical limb ischemia (CLI). A very severe blockage in the legs and feet means that the legs do not receive the oxygen or nutrition needed for cellular or skin growth and repair. CLI may lead to painful leg or foot sores, and it could eventually lead to gangrene. If this condition is left untreated, the foot or leg may need to be amputated.

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How is peripheral artery disease diagnosed and treated?

Techniques used to diagnose PAD include a medical history, physical exam, ultrasound, X-ray angiography and magnetic resonance imaging angiography (MRA).

Most people with Pad can be treated with lifestyle changes, medications or both. The following are contribuitng factors that often lead to peripheral arterial disease.

Controllable:

·         High blood pressure ·         Smoking ·         High cholesterol ·         Excessive alcohol use ·         Poor diet ·         Heart disease ·         Diabetes ·         Lack of exercise ·         Obesity

Uncontrollable:

·         Family history

·         Age

Outlook
A person with PAD has a six to seven times greater risk of CAD, heart attack, stroke, or transient ischemic attack ("mini stroke") than the rest of the population. If a person has heart disease, he or she has a 1 in 3 chance of having blocked arteries in the legs. Early diagnosis and treatment of PAD, including screening high-risk individuals, are important to prevent disability and save lives. PAD treatment may stop the disease from progressing and reduce the risk of heart attack, heart disease, and stroke.

Although PAD is serious, it is treatable. The buildup of plaque in the arteries can often be stopped or reversed with dietary changes, exercise, and efforts to lower high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. In some patients, blood flow in the vessels may be improved by medicines or surgery.

With such a high incidence of PAD, and it’s strong Correlation with cardiovascular disease and stroke, it makes good sense to get a screening.

To get a screening call 757-722-0223