Symptoms, Complications and Treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease

1. Symptoms, Complications andTreatment of Peripheral Artery Disease Peripheral artery disease (PAD), sometimes referred to as peripheral vascular disease or PVD, is caused due to the hardening of arteries which commonly occurs in older people. This hardening is a result of the buildup of cholesterol and scar in arteries, forming plaque. Plaque clogs the arteries, thereby hindering smooth flow of blood to the legs. This result in pain when walking and eventually causes gangrene or may even require amputation of the lower leg. Since PAD patients have blocked arteries, they are at higher risk of heart diseases and stroke. Being a system disease (atherosclerosis), it affects the body as a whole which means patients are likely to have blocked arteries in other body parts too. Symptoms of PAD Painful cramping in the leg or hip while walking or doing exercise Numbness, tingling and burning sensation in the leg while sitting Pain in legs that awaken you at night Cold legs or feet Impotency Complications If PAD is not treated, it may require amputation of the lower leg. This is because when blood supply to the lower leg is restricted for long periods, it will die, making it susceptible to gangrene, a life threatening condition. PAD patients have higher risk of heart attack and strokes. Sometimes open surgery is required to remove the blockage or bypass the clogged area, which is performed by vascular surgeons. Treatment Peripheral artery disease treatment has two major goals:

2. Manage leg pain so that you can resume physical activities Stop the progression of atherosclerosis throughout the body Medication Several types of medications are available for peripheral artery disease treatment which are listed below: Medication to prevent blood clot Medication to lower cholesterol Symptom-relief medication Medication to control blood sugar High blood pressure medication Interventional Radiology Angioplasty and Stenting: In this procedure, an interventional radiologist threads a catheter through the groin and inflates a balloon to open a clogged or blocked blood vessel. In some cases, a stent (a tiny metal cylinder) is held to keep the vessel open. It’s a minimally invasive treatment that does not require surgery. Balloon angioplasty and stenting is fast replacing invasive surgery as first-line treatment for peripheral artery disease in PAD treatment centers all over the US. Interventional therapy is as effective as surgery for treating arterial occlusions. Minimally-invasive, Non-surgical Treatment for PAD USA Vascular Centers is the leading PAD treatment center in the US that provides minimally- invasive, non-surgical treatment for peripheral artery disease. Vascular surgeons at USA Vascular Centers use the latest technologies for the treatment of peripheral artery disease that necessitated surgery and hospital stay in the past years. Our expert physicians and surgeons work hard to keep your independence and mobility so that you can live life to its fullest again.