Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is just as common as a stroke1…
Do you experience any of these PAD symptoms?
- Leg pain, numbness, tingling or weakness
- Changes in the color of the arms or legs
- Foot or toe wounds that do not heal or heal too slowly
- Decrease in the temperature of the lower legs and feet compared to the rest of the body
- Erectile dysfunction
- Poor nail or hair growth
Take our quiz to see if you qualify for PAD treatment »
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) refers to the narrowing of the “peripheral” arteries, the blood vessels that reside within the legs, arms, abdomen and neck.
Just like heart disease and stroke, PAD is caused by a buildup of cholesterol and scar tissue on the walls of the arteries which forms a substance known as plaque. The plaque builds up gradually and over time and it will clog the artery, or break free and get lodged in narrower arteries, restricting blood flow.
PAD most commonly occurs in the legs. Left untreated, it can lead to painful cramping, limited mobility, gangrene, infection, amputation and even death.
PAD is an under-diagnosed disease
PAD often goes unnoticed and undiagnosed by healthcare providers.3 What’s more, the symptoms of PAD are easily mistaken for other conditions, such as neuropathy or just the aches and pains of getting older. In addition, PAD is more often missed in women than men.
Take our quiz to see if you qualify for PAD treatment »
PAD can lead to amputation
PAD is one of the leading causes of foot and leg amputation, especially if left untreated. It can lead to critical limb ischemia (restricted blood flow to the lower limbs) which can result in amputation. When PAD and diabetes occur together, the risk of amputation is greater than with either disease alone.
Now, the good news…
Fortunately, there are several highly effective treatment options if PAD is detected early. Even when the disease is more advanced, there may be options to help preserve your limbs.
PAD is easily diagnosed with simple, easy and painless tests. These can include a physical examination by your doctor, ankle-brachial index (ABI), ultrasound (duplex), X-Ray (arteriogram), CT (CT angiography) and MRI (MR angiography). In some cases, an angiogram may be performed to identify the precise location of blockages within the peripheral arteries.
Treating PAD
If not severe, PAD can be treated with medication and lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking. If it has progressed and treatment is needed, there are several procedures performed at Memphis Vascular Center for you and your doctor to consider.
Our interventional radiology experts offer minimally invasive, image-guided treatments for PAD that do not require open surgery and have a faster recovery period with less downtime. Known as endovascular therapy, these treatments include angioplasty (with or without a stent), atherectomy and catheter-directed thrombolysis.
Additionally, if you’ve been told you need an amputation, it may be worth your while to call us for a second opinion. Thanks to our Limb Salvage Program, we’ve been able to help many patients restore peripheral blood flow to avoid losing their limbs.
Take our quiz to see if you qualify for PAD treatment »
PAD treatment is covered by most insurance and may be performed in our convenient outpatient setting. For more information, please call (901) 683-1890 or fill out the form below.
Click here to visit our website where you can download a brochure and information to share with your doctor.
- Kalbaugh, CA et al. Peripheral Artery Disease Prevalence and Incidence. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2017;6:e003796 Originally published May 3, 2017
- Roger VL, Go AS, Lloyd-Jones DM, et. al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2011 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2011;123:e18-e209.
- Source: American Heart Association