Could You Have Peripheral Arterial Disease?

Aug 21

Written By New York Foot Health - NYSPMA

Have you started experiencing new toe or foot pain when resting—sometimes severe enough to wake you from a sound sleep? Do you have skin ulcers on your feet that seem to take a long time to heal? These are two potential symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and at NY Foot Health, we want our patients to be aware of this serious medical condition that can harm their feet.

Who’s At Risk?

Peripheral Arterial Disease occurs when fatty plaque deposits build up in the arteries, causing them to narrow or even become blocked. This reduces blood flow to the legs and feet, also called “poor circulation.” PAD most often affects the arteries in the legs. Pain or tiredness in your legs when you move but go away when you rest is a symptom of this condition.

It’s estimated that 8 to 12 million Americans have PAD. It often affects older people but can affect younger patients as well. People with PAD have a significantly higher chance of heart attack and stroke.

Factors that put you at risk for this condition include:

High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Smoking
Obesity
Sedentary lifestyle

Diagnosing and Treating PAD

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, discussing them with your podiatrist is important. If you don't have a foot doctor, use our online directory to find one in your community. The foot doctor has a simple test that can be used to determine if you have PAD. It’s called an ankle-brachial index (ABI) and compares the blood pressure in your ankles with the blood pressure in your arm. If your ABI is abnormal, your podiatrist will want you to have additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine how severe your PAD is.

Treatment options for PAD include medications to prevent blood clots and surgical procedures to increase blood flow in the arteries. However, in many cases, lifestyle changes can play a big part in reducing PAD. Some of these include: