Peripheral Artery Disease

My husband underwent quadruple by-pass heart surgery several years ago so we probably notice articles about heart disease more than the average person. Lately, there has been a lot of attention focused on another form of heart problem; peripheral artery disease, or P.A.D. for short. Not that P.A.D. is new on the scene. It has always been around, but we are just hearing more about it these days.

Knowing how important it is that heart disease be diagnosed and treated quickly, I want to share some of the symptoms of P.A.D. so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not you may need to be checked for it.

1. What is Peripheral Artery Disease?

Peripheral Artery Disease is a condition where fatty deposits have clogged up the arteries to the point where blood flow is being restricted. The more the arteries fill with these deposits, the more likely it becomes that problems will develop.

2. Is Peripheral Artery Disease dangerous?

P.A.D. is extremely dangerous, but because the symptoms may come and go, people sometimes fail to take the disease seriously. Unfortunately, having P.A.D. doubles your risk of having a stroke or a heart attack if it is allowed to continue untreated.

3. How Common Is Peripheral Artery Disease?

A. In fact, about one fifth of all people over 70 have P.A.D.

B. People as young as 50 who have high cholesterol or are heavy smokers frequently suffer from P.A.D.

C. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, at any age, or if you had a father or mother who suffered from a stroke or heart attack at an early age, you are more likely to have P.A.D. than others.

D. Among diabetics, nearly one out of three people over 50 have it.

Those are large enough percentages to make you aware of your need to be checked out if you fall into any of those groups, especially if you currently suffer any of the common P.A.D. symptoms below.

4. What are the most frequent symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease?

A. Legs that feel overly tired or heavy after walking even for a short distance.

B. Pain while walking that usually subsides after resting.
C. Cramps in feet or legs may indicate poor circulation.

Lack of symptoms does not necessarily mean that you do not have Peripheral Artery Disease. If you have any of the risk factors mentioned above, be checked out anyway just to be safe, because if you wait until symptoms appear, the disease may have advanced to a place where it is much harder to treat.

5. How can Peripheral Artery Disease be treated?

There are a number of treatments for P.A.D., depending on how serious a particular case is. Treatment ranges from lifestyle changes such as giving up smoking, getting more exercise, and changing to a healthier diet. Medicines for lowering cholesterol may be prescribed. Surgery may be necessary in severe cases, but only your doctor is qualified to decide what the best treatment may be in your particular case.

Most of us don't think a lot about taking care of our hearts, but once your heart is damaged, your quality of life will not be as good as it might have been. Discovering P.A.D. and treating it early is one way to give your heart the best chance to serve you well throughout your life.

Resources:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/45975/naturally_treat_peripheral_artery_disease_pg2.html?cat=5

http://www.padcoalition.org/about-pad/what-is-pad/

Risk Assessor, "Peripheral Artery Testing" Bristol-Myers Squibb