Peripheral Artery Disease: Symptoms, causes, and treatment

Dr.Amrish Kumar, 3 mins read

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a medical condition in which any of limbs don’t get enough blood supply due to blockages or stenosis.

This causes pain in the affected area and other symptoms. Though it can happen in any blood vessel, it usually affects the arteries in the legs. Thus making it difficult to walk or do any physical activity.

PAD is usually a sign of fat deposits in the arteries. This leads to the narrowing of arteries over time.

Symptoms:
Many people with PAD either experience no symptoms or mild symptoms. Those who experience symptoms report:

• Mild to severe pain or cramping in the affected area (arms or legs - usually in the calf). The pain usually starts during exercise and ends with rest.
• Weakness or numbness in the leg
• Coldness in the lower leg or foot
• Shiny skin or a change in skin colour in the affected area
• Sores on the toes, feet or legs that won’t heal
• Slower toenail growth
• Hair loss, or slower hair growth in the affected region
• Erectile dysfunction
• Gangrene of the foot

If the disease progresses, you may have pain even while resting or lying down.

Causes:
The most common cause of peripheral artery disease is a buildup of fatty, cholesterol deposits (plaques) on artery walls. This narrows down the arteries, thus reducing the blood flow.

Plaque buildup can affect any artery. But when it affects the arteries of the limbs, it is called PAD.

Apart from this, there could be other causes, too. These include inflammation of blood vessels, injury to any limb, changes in muscles or ligaments, and exposure to harmful radiation.

Treatment:
There are various ways through which peripheral artery disease can be treated. Your doctor may choose any or a combination of these options for your treatment.

Medicine: For symptomatic PAD, your doctor may recommend certain medicines. These may include medicine for cholesterol or any other underlying medical issue like blood pressure or sugar. You may also be suggested aspirin or any other antiplatelet drug to prevent any serious problems from PAD.

Lifestyle changes: If you smoke, you need to quit it. Take a healthy diet and enrol in a supervised exercise program.

Surgery: Surgery may be done to open the blocked artery. If you need a procedure, you may be suggested for:

• An angioplasty and stent placement
• A bypass surgery

Special care for legs: People with PAD, especially those with diabetes, are at risk of poor healing of sores and injuries. To improve your healing, especially in the legs, here are some tips for you:

• Wash your feet twice or thrice a day.
• Moisturise your feet to prevent cracks that can lead to infection
• Wear well-fitting shoes and thick, dry socks
• Take care while trimming your nails
• See your healthcare provider if you notice any abnormal changes