PAD (Peripheral Arterial Disease) a Serious, yet Treatable Condition

Do you have occasional pain when you walk? Does it come on suddenly and then go away just as suddenly? Do you just think it is part of the aging process? Do you put it down to being arthritis? Have you discussed this pain with your doctor? How often do you experience this pain? Could it possibly be a sign of Peripheral arterial Disease?

What is Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), you ask? It is a disease that occurs when fatty material builds up around the arteries in one's legs, which in turn blocks the flow of blood. It works in the same way as when our arteries become clogged in our heart.

Of course, left untreated PAD is a serious condition. The blood will continue to clog which will make the risk of strokes and heart attacks higher. In fact, a person who is suffering from PAD has a greater risk factor of 6 to 7 percent of suffering from a stroke or a heart attack. This is the same number as someone who has all ready suffering from one. Plus, one and four people who are suffering from PAD and not treated will suffer from these conditions and die or suffer from amputation.

Other symptoms that go along with PAD are: fatigue, cramps, tiredness or pain in the leg or buttock muscles that goes away when you stop walking. Sometimes PAD can also cause ulcers and slow healing wounds on the toes or pain in the feet or toes that can disturb sleep.

Yet, there are also two thirds of the people who are suffering from PAD and who are not experiencing any symptoms.

The risk factors of developing PAD are: age (people usually over 50), smokers or those who have smokes, diabetes, African Americans, people with chronic kidney disease, high book pressure, high cholesterol, vascular disease, those who have had previous heart attacks or strokes and those with a family history of vascular diseases.

If you have these risk factors and or the symptoms of PAD, you should speak to your doctor today about PAD and your chances of developing it. There is an inexpensive test called at ABI (ankle-brachial index) which your doctor may recommend.

As for treatment of PAD, exercise along with medication can help.