Peripheral Artery Disease

What is peripheral artery disease?

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when fat (plaques) collects in your leg arteries. The arteries in your legs carry oxygen and nutrient-rich blood from your heart to your arms and legs, but if they get clogged, circulation slows, increasing your risk of heart disease. 

Without treatment, peripheral artery disease worsens. The more fat deposits that build up, the more likely you are to suffer a heart attack or stroke, so seeking treatment is crucial.

What are the symptoms of peripheral artery disease?

Peripheral artery disease symptoms include:

• Burning or aching in the feet and toes, especially while resting
• Cool skin on your feet
• Redness and skin discoloration
• Frequent skin and soft tissue infections
• Toe and foot sores that don’t heal

Peripheral artery disease develops slowly over years, so many people don’t have any symptoms. Regular checkups at Texas Cardiac and Vascular Specialists can catch the problem early on and prevent it from worsening.

How is peripheral artery disease diagnosed?

Your Texas Cardiac and Vascular Specialists provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms. Then, they complete a physical exam and order several tests, including:

Vascular ultrasound

A vascular ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to assess blood flow in your leg arteries. This test can also identify other problems, such as deep venous thrombosis (blood clots). 

Ankle-brachial index (ABI)

This test assesses the blood pressure in your upper and lower limbs. More specifically, the blood pressure in your ankle compared to the blood pressure in your arm. A lower-than-average ABI reading often indicates a narrowing or blockage in your leg arteries.

How is PAD treated?

The Texas Cardiac and Vascular Specialists team treats PAD using a conservative and integrative approach. Often, that includes a combination of healthy lifestyle changes and prescription medication. They might recommend:

• Quitting the use of tobacco products
• Eating a balanced diet that’s high in fiber and low in sodium (salt)
• Exercising regularly
• Managing other health problems with medication, such as high blood pressure and diabetes
• Stress management activities
• Statin medications (to reduce cholesterol)
• Antiplatelet medications
• Angioplasty and stenting (a surgery that unblocks an artery and increases blood flow)

Most people with peripheral artery disease benefit from several types of treatment. The team monitors your circulation at routine checkups and adjusts your care plan as needed. The goal is to improve your blood flow and reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Call Texas Cardiac and Vascular Specialists to schedule peripheral artery disease treatment, or book your appointment online today.