What is Peripheral Artery Disease?
PAD is a disease where blockages develop in leg arteries when plaque (a substance made of cholesterol, calcium and fibrous tissue) builds up in blood vessels. Critical Limb Ischemia, or CLI, is a more serious version in which blood flow is reduced to the point that wounds, ulcer, gangrene or pain without movement develop. Over time, it increases the risk of needing an amputation.
How do I know if I’m at risk?
If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, are obese or smoke, you may have an increased risk for PAD. Studies have also shown Black adults age 50+ have double the chance of developing this condition.What are the signs to look out for?
Too often PAD symptoms are ignored. Early diagnosis is key to taking action and decreasing your risks for serious health complications.
- Leg pain or cramping (claudication) with exercise that stops with rest
- Pain in the ball of the foot or toes
- Nighttime foot pain that improves when hanging the foot over the side of the bed
- Ulcers or sores that will not heal on the foot, ankle or toes
- Blue or black discoloration of the toes
Run, don’t walk to get on the path to better circulation.
If you have one or more of these symptoms, talk to your primary care physician (PCP) today about your symptoms today to see if a referral to a Sentara Vascular Specialists PAD Center is right for you.