As many as 8 to 12 million Americans have peripheral artery disease (PAD). Three out of four don’t even have symptoms and mistake what signs they do have for something else. Occurring in both men and women, PAD’s most common symptom is cramping, pain or tiredness in the leg or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs. Women are less likely to experience symptoms.
Unfortunately, PAD is often undiagnosed. That’s a problem since most people with PAD are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke. What’s more, if left untreated, PAD can lead to gangrene and amputation. Although people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol are at risk for PAD, it’s still possible for people to find out if they have this condition before it’s too late. A simple, painless test makes it easy to diagnose PAD. What’s more, it can be typically managed with lifestyle changes, medication and recommendations by a healthcare professional. If you are at high risk, you should be screened for PAD. Even if you are not experiencing symptoms, talk to us about this condition – it may reduce your risk for heart attack or stroke.
Risk Factors
- Cigarette smoking
- Obesity
- Diabetes mellitus
- High blood pressure
- Physical inactivity
- High cholesterol
Contact us if you would like to know more about peripheral artery disease and how we can help with prevention and/or treatment.