ECCO Endovascular Consultants

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Understanding PAD

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What is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)?

Peripheral Arterial Disease occurs when plaque, made of cholesterol and/or calcium, builds up in the arteries supplying blood to your extremities, narrowing them and reducing the flow of blood. This process is known as atherosclerosis, or “hardening of the arteries.”

PAD is a serious condition that affects one in every 20 Americans and should be diagnosed promptly by vascular specialists so they can reduce your risk as quickly as possible.

In advanced cases of PAD, more extensive treatment might be necessary to keep the disease from progressing further.

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Symptoms:

All patients with PAD are at increased risk of a heart attack or stroke and some are at risk of losing a limb to amputation as a result of non-treatment. If arterial disease is caught early, it can be treated conservatively with lifestyle, diet, exercise and medication. Left untreated, however, the disease can progress to the point of causing symptoms such as:

  • Pain, numbness or heaviness in your legs especially when walking or climbing stairs
  • Burning pain in the toes and feet when at rest, or that disturbs your sleep
  • Sores or wounds on your legs, feet and toes that fail to heal
  • Color changes in your feet that turn the skin pale or blue
  • Poor nail growth and/or decreased hair growth on legs and toes
  • In men, erectile dysfunction, especially if you also have diabetes

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