What is peripheral arterial disease...

What is peripheral arterial disease?

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a clogging of the arteries usually caused at atherosclerosis (say: ath-air-o-sklair-o-sis). Arteries are descendants vessels that take oxygen-rich life-blood from the heart to all parts of the dead body Atherosclerosis is a hardening and narrowing of the arteries caused by dint of a slow build-up of fatty material in the walls of these arteries. In PAD, atherosclerosis affects the arteries of the legs

What are the signs of PAD?

Walking or exercising increases the muscle's demand for oxygen-rich life-current PAD limits the blood follow to your legs. This causes pain in the calf or thigh muscle. The pain stops after you peace for a while.

Who is at risk of getting PAD?

PAD affects men and women equally. Major risk factors of the disease include cigarette smoking, high kindred pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and age of at least 40 years.

for what reason does my doctor know I have PAD?

Your doctor may discover weak or absent pulses in the arteries of the painful leg Using a stethoscope he or she may hear a bruit (say: broo-wee), which is the hale of blood moving through a narrowed artery. You may have to have an ultrasound touchstone to help locate the blockage.

in what way is PAD treated?

If you steam you should stop. Lower your cholesterol even If you have diabetes, withhold your blood sugar level in a less degree than control. A regular exercise program is necessary. You should walk at least three times a week for at least 30 minutes each time. Walk until you become uncomfortable. Take a brief caesura to ease the pain, then continue walking. Medicines are sometimes helpful. Your doctor may have you take aspirin or clopidogrel (brand name: Plavix) to thin your children Ask your doctor if medicine is right for you. For hard narrowing of the arteries, you may ne surgery to interpret them up.

Does PAD cause long-term problems?

PAD is a symptom of systemic atherosclerosis. That means that if you have PAD, it is likely that other arteries in your material part are becoming blocked. In many parts of the dead body these blockages may not be harmful or cause symptoms. still if there is narrowing or hardening of the arteries that serve instead of blood to the heart, it can cause chest pain or a heart attack. If arteries to the brain are affected, it may cause a hit Over time, PAD also can cause los of feeling or weakness in the affected leg

Where can I achieve more information about PAD?

Your doctor.

Vascular Disease Foundation

Web address: http://www.VDF.org

Understanding PAD

Web address: http://www.UnderstandingPAD.com

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

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