PAD 1 PDF

Peripheral artery disease (also called peripheral arterial disease) is a common condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the arms or legs.  IN PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE (PAD), THE LEGS OR ARMS — USUALLY THE LEGS — DON'T RECEIVE ENOUGH BLOOD FLOW T...

Peripheral artery disease (also called peripheral arterial disease) is a common condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the arms or legs.  IN PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE (PAD), THE LEGS OR ARMS — USUALLY THE LEGS — DON'T RECEIVE ENOUGH BLOOD FLOW TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND. THIS MAY CAUSE LEG PAIN WHEN WALKING (CLAUDICATION) AND OTHER SYMPTOMS. PAD PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE IS USUALLY A SIGN OF A BUILDUP OF FATTY DEPOSITS IN THE ARTERIES (ATHEROSCLEROSIS). ATHEROSCLEROSIS CAUSES NARROWING OF THE ARTERIES THAT CAN REDUCE BLOOD FLOW IN THE LEGS AND, SOMETIMES, THE ARMS.  SYMPTOMS Coldness in the lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other side Leg numbness or weakness No pulse or a weak pulse in the legs or feet Painful cramping in one or both of the hips, thighs or calf muscles after certain activities, such as walking or climbing stairs Shiny skin on the legs Skin color changes on the legs Slower growth of the toe nails Sores on the toes, feet or legs that won't heal Pain when using the arms, such as aching and cramping when knitting, writing or doing other manual tasks Erectile dysfunction Hair loss or slower hair growth on the legs  Causes Cause Atherosclerosis Less common ❑ Blood vessel inflammation ❑ Injury to the arms or legs ❑ Changes in the muscles or ligaments ❑ Radiation exposure  Risk factors ❑ Smoking or having diabetes greatly increases the risk of developing peripheral artery disease. ❑ A family history of peripheral artery disease, heart disease or stroke. ❑ High blood pressure ( HTN) ❑ High cholesterol(DYS) ❑ High levels of an amino acid called homocysteine, which increase the risk for coronary artery disease ❑ Increasing age, especially after 65 (or after 50 if you have risk factors for atherosclerosis) ❑ Obesity (a body mass index over 30)  Complications  Complications of peripheral artery disease caused by atherosclerosis include: Critical limb ischemia. In this condition, an injury or infection causes tissue to die. Symptoms include open sores on the limbs that don't heal. Treatment may include amputation of the affected limb. Stroke and heart attack. Plaque buildup in the arteries can also affect the blood vessels in the heart and brain.  Prevention  The best way to prevent leg pain due to peripheral artery disease is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. That means: Don't smoke. Control blood sugar. Eat foods that are low in saturated fat. Get regular exercise — but check with your care provider about what type and how much is best for you. Maintain a healthy weight. Manage blood pressure and cholesterol. Diagnosis  TTT  The goals of treatment for peripheral artery disease are: Manage symptoms, such as leg pain, so exercise isn't uncomfortable Improve artery health to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke  Treatments for peripheral artery disease includes lifestyle changes and sometimes, medication.  Lifestyle changes can help improve symptoms, especially early in the course of peripheral artery disease. If you smoke, quitting is the single most important thing you can do to reduce the risk of complications. Walking or doing other exercise on a regular, scheduled basis (supervised exercise training) can improve symptoms dramatically.  healthy lifestyle changes Making healthy lifestyle changes can help you manage peripheral artery disease symptoms and prevent them from getting worse. Try these tips: Don't smoke. Smoking damages the arteries. It increases the risk for peripheral artery disease (PAD). If you have PAD, smoking can make the condition worse. If you need help quitting smoking, ask your care provider about strategies and medications that can help. Eat a healthy diet. A heart-healthy diet low in saturated fat helps control blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Avoid certain cold and sinus medications. Products that contain pseudoephedrine (Advil Cold and Sinus, Sudafed, others) tighten blood vessels and may increase PAD symptoms.  Exercise Exercise is an important part of PAD treatment. Regular exercise helps the body use oxygen better and improves symptoms of PAD. Sometimes, the exercise that will help you get better may cause pain. But don't get discouraged. As you continue exercising, you'll be able to walk longer without pain. Your health care provider likely will prescribe supervised exercise therapy to increase the distance you can walk pain-free.  angioplasty or surgery  In some cases, angioplasty or surgery may be necessary to treat peripheral artery disease that's causing claudication: Angioplasty and stent placement. This procedure is done to open clogged arteries. It can diagnose and treat a blocked vessel at the same time. The health care provider guides a thin, flexible tube (catheter) to the narrowed part of the artery. A tiny balloon is inflated to widen the blocked artery and improve blood flow. A small wire mesh tube (stent) may be placed in the artery to keep the artery open. Bypass surgery. The surgeon creates a path around the blocked artery using either a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body or a synthetic one. Thrombolytic therapy. If a blood clot is blocking an artery, a clot-dissolving drug may be given directly into the affected artery. BYPASS In addition to lifestyle changes, take good care of your feet. People with PAD, especially those who also have diabetes, are at risk of poor healing of sores and injuries on the lower legs and feet. Poor blood flow can delay or prevent proper healing. It also increases the risk of infection. Follow this advice to care for your feet: Wash your feet every day. Dry them completely. Use moisturizer to prevent cracks that can lead to infection. Don't moisturize between the toes, however, as this can help fungus grow. Wear well-fitting shoes and thick, dry socks. Promptly treat any fungal infections of the feet, such as athlete's foot. Take care when trimming your nails. Inspect your feet daily for injuries. Have a foot doctor (podiatrist) treat bunions, corns or calluses.