One in every 20 Americans over the age of 50 has P.A.D., a condition that raises the risk for heart attack and stroke.
Peripheral arterial disease, or P.A.D., develops when your arteries become clogged with plaque—fatty deposits that limit blood flow to your legs. Just like clogged arteries in the heart, clogged arteries in the legs mean you are at risk for having a heart attack or stroke. Plaque buildup in the legs does not always cause symptoms, so many people can have P.A.D. and not know it. People who do experience symptoms, such as pain or cramping in the legs, often do not report them, believing they are a natural part of aging or due to another cause. In all, P.A.D. affects 8 to 12 million people in the United States, especially those over 50. You can lower your risk for P.A.D. This fact sheet answers key questions about P.A.D. and provides steps you can take to reduce your risk. Timely detection and treatment of P.A.D. can improve the quality of your life; help you keep your independence and mobility; and reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, leg amputation, and even death. Taking steps to learn about P.A.D., including asking your health care provider to check your risk, can help you stay in circulation longer to enjoy your life.
What is P.A.D.?
Peripheral arterial disease—also known as P.A.D.—is a common, yet serious, disease. It occurs when extra cholesterol and other fats circulating in the blood collect in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to your limbs. This buildup—called plaque—narrows your arteries, often reducing or blocking the flow of blood. P.A.D. is most commonly seen in the legs, but also can be present in the arteries that carry blood from your heart to your head, arms, kidneys, and stomach. Nearly everyone who has P.A.D.—even those who do not have leg symptoms—suffers from an inability to walk as fast or as far as they could before P.A.D.
What Causes P.A.D?
The cause of plaque buildup in the limbs is unknown in most cases. However, there are some conditions and habits that raise your chance of developing P.A.D.
Your risk increases if you:
What are the Signs and Symptoms of P.A.D.?
If they are present, the typical signs and symptoms of the disease include:
However, most people with P.A.D. do not experience symptoms.
If you believe you are at risk for P.A.D., discuss this concern with your health care provider. Find out if you should be tested for P.A.D and what you can do to lower your risk.
How is P.A.D. Diagnosed?
Many types of health care providers diagnose and treat P.A.D. Whether you see a family physician, internist, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, the first step is to ask about your risk for P.A.D. Your provider will take a medical and family history, perform a physical exam, and conduct diagnostic tests. In addition, there are many specialists who take care of patients with P.A.D., including: vascular medicine specialists, vascular surgeons, cardiologists, podiatrists, and interventional radiologists.
Medical and Family History
Your health care provider is likely to spend some time reviewing:
Physical Exam
During the physical exam, your health care provider may check:
Diagnostic Tests
When checking you for P.A.D., your health care provider may perform a simple noninvasive test called an ankle-brachial index (ABI). Painless and easy, the ABI compares the blood pressure readings in your ankles with the blood pressure readings in your arms. An ABI can help determine whether you have P.A.D., but it cannot identify which arteries are narrowed or blocked. Your health care provider may decide to do a Doppler ultrasound test to see whether a specific artery is open or blocked. This test uses sound waves to measure the blood flow in the veins and arteries in your arms and legs. Your health care provider may also perform blood tests to see if you have diabetes and check your cholesterol levels. Other tests are also used to help diagnose P.A.D. Talk with your health care provider for more information.
Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider
How is P.A.D. Treated?
The overall goals for treating P.A.D. are to reduce any symptoms, improve quality of life and mobility, and prevent heart attack, stroke, and amputation.
There are three main approaches to treating P.A.D.: making lifestyle changes; taking medication; and in some cases, having a special procedure or surgery. Your health care provider will determine the best treatment options for you, based on your medical history and the severity of your condition.
Lifestyle Changes
P.A.D. treatment often includes making long-lasting lifestyle changes. If you have P.A.D., or are aiming to prevent it, your health care provider may prescribe one or more of the following:
Medication
In addition to lifestyle changes, your health care provider may prescribe one or more medications. These medications are used to:
Special Procedures and Surgeries
If the blood flow in one of your limbs is completely or almost completely blocked, you may benefit from having a procedure or surgery in addition to medications and lifestyle changes. Procedures such as angioplasty and bypass graft surgery will not cure P.A.D., but they can improve the blood circulation to your legs and your ability to walk.
Stay in Circulation: Take Steps to Learn About P.A.D. is a national awareness campaign to increase public and health care provider awareness about peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.) and its association with other cardiovascular diseases. The campaign is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute—part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—in cooperation with the P.A.D. Coalition, an alliance of national organizations and professional societies united to improve the health and health care of people with P.A.D.
To Learn More
For additional information about P.A.D. and to download free patient education materials, please visit the following Web sites:
Stay in Circulation: Take Steps to Learn About P.A.D
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/pad
NHLBI Diseases and Conditions Index: Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.) www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/pad/pad_what.html
NHLBI Health Information Center
Phone: 301-592-8573
TTY: 240-629-3255
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/infoctr
P.A.D. Coalition
www.PADCoalition.org