Peripheral Artery Disease PAD
LA Vascular Specialists
Vascular Specialists located in Beverly Hills, CA & Encino, CA
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a serious circulation problem that affects blood flow to your limbs and organs. Without an adequate supply of blood, PAD increases the risk of limb or organ damage. At LA Vascular Specialists, with offices in the Beverly Hills, Glendale, and Encino communities of Los Angeles, California, Ramtin Massoudi, MD, and the team of board-certified physicians use advanced tools and techniques to diagnose and treat PAD. To schedule a consultation with the experienced team, call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.
What are the symptoms of PAD?
Peripheral artery disease or PAD is a condition that affects the supply of oxygen-rich blood to your limbs and organs. The decrease in blood flow occurs due to a buildup of plaque (cholesterol, fat, and minerals) along the blood vessel walls, a condition known as atherosclerosis.
PAD occurs when extra cholesterol and other fats circulating in the blood collect in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to your limbs. This buildup is called plaque which narrows your arteries, often reducing or blocking the flow of blood to your legs most commonly.
Though PAD may affect any of your peripheral arteries, it’s most common in the legs. Despite affecting 6.5 million adults in the United States, many people with PAD go undiagnosed. You may be at risk of developing PAD if:
- You’re over age 50
- You’re a smoker or have a history of smoking
- You have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol
- You have a history of vascular disease, heart attack, or stroke
Obesity and a family history of vascular disease may also increase your risk of developing this circulation problem.
What is peripheral artery disease (PAD)?
Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside your arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other parts of your body. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries.
What are the symptoms of PAD?
Not everyone with peripheral artery disease develops symptoms.
The most common symptom of PAD is claudication, which is leg pain that worsens when walking or climbing stairs and improves with rest.
Other symptoms of PAD include:
- Numbness or tingling sensations in the legs
- A change in leg skin color
- A slowdown in leg hair or toenail growth
- Non-healing leg or foot sores or ulcers
- Weak or nonexistent pulse in your legs or feet
- Toenail fungus
Erectile dysfunction in men may also be a sign of PAD.
PAD may also increase your risk of developing other health complications such as critical limb ischemia, diabetic foot ulcers or foot pain, leg wounds, kidney artery stenosis, or peripheral aneurysm.
How is peripheral artery disease or PAD diagnosed?
When you visit LA Vascular Specialists with concerns about peripheral artery disease, your board-certified physician conducts an in-depth evaluation to ensure you get an accurate diagnosis.
During the exam, your provider reviews your symptoms, medical history, family history, and general lifestyle habits. Then, they perform a physical exam and run various diagnostic tests to confirm or rule out PAD.
Testing may include:
- Ankle-brachial index (ABI)
- Doppler ultrasound
- Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
- Computed tomography angiography
- Blood tests
Your provider uses the objective data collected during your exam to diagnose PAD.
How is PAD treated?
Your provider at LA Vascular Specialists develops a personalized treatment plan for PAD. The goal of treatment is to alleviate symptoms, improve quality of life, and reduce the risk of other health complications such as a stroke, heart attack, or amputation.
Treatment may include lifestyle modifications and medication. Your provider at LA Vascular Specialists may also recommend an endovascular or surgical procedure to improve blood flow through your blocked arteries. Procedures may include angioplasty, atherectomy, or bypass surgery.
PAD is common and may increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke if left untreated. To schedule an appointment with the vascular experts at LA Vascular Specialists, call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.
