Peripheral Arterial Disease Doctor’s Name Contact Information

What is P.A.D.? P.A.D. is short for Peripheral Arterial Disease. It occurs when arteries in the legs become narrowed or clogged with fatty deposits known as plaque.

What is P.A.D.? The buildup of plaque causes the arteries to harden and narrow. When leg arteries are hardened and clogged, blood flow to the legs and feet is reduced. Some people simply call this poor circulation.

Did You Know? PAD affects 8 to 12 million Americans, and one in every five people over the age of 70 has the disease. PAD and diabetes are the leading cause of non-traumatic, lower-limb amputations. A simple blood pressure test can compare blood pressure in your ankles with the blood pressure in your arm to test for PAD.

Are you at risk for P.A.D.? The chance of having P.A.D. increases as you get older. People over age 50 have a higher risk for P.A.D. Behaviors and conditions that increase risk: Do you smoke, or did you used to smoke? Do you have diabetes or sugar problems? Do you have high blood pressure? Is there a family history?

Are you at risk for P.A.D.? Behaviors and conditions that increase risk: Do you have abnormal blood cholesterol levels? Are you of African American ethnicity? Have you had heart disease, a heart attack or a stroke?

Warning signs of P.A.D. P.A.D. develops slowly over many years. In the early stages, most people with P.A.D. have no symptoms. Only about one out of three people with P.A.D. actually feel there is something wrong with their feet or legs. By that time, their arteries may be so clogged that they are not getting enough oxygen to their leg muscles.

Warning signs of P.A.D. The most common signs of P.A.D. include one or more of these problems: Cramps, tiredness or pain in your legs, thighs or buttocks that always happens when you walk but that goes away when you rest. This is called claudication. Foot or toe pain that often disturbs your sleep. Skin wounds or ulcers on your feet or toes that are slow to heal.

Warning signs of P.A.D. Do not ignore leg pain as a part of getting older. Many people with P.A.D. do not realize they have it and, as a result, do not get treatment. It is important to discuss any leg or thigh pain you may be having with your health care provider—it may be a warning sign of a serious disease such as P.A.D.

Is P.A.D. a serious disease? Lower-extremity P.A.D. is a serious disease that affects about 8 million Americans. The hardened arteries in people with P.A.D. are a sign that they are likely to have hardened and narrowed arteries to the heart and the brain. People with P.A.D. are at high risk for having a heart attack or a stroke.

Is P.A.D. a serious disease? When the blood flow to the legs is greatly reduced, people with P.A.D. may have pain when walking. P.A.D. may cause other problems that can lead to amputation. As time goes on, quality of life can decrease greatly.

How do I get tested for P.A.D.? You may fill out a simple paper questionnaire to evaluate your personal risk factors, or ask your doctor during your next visit. You may have an ankle-brachial index (ABI) exam or another simple, in-office, non-invasive test to detect blockages in arteries and the quality of blood flow. The results from the test will allow your doctor to determine the best treatment options.

Prevent and control P.A.D. with these lifesaving steps: Get help to quit smoking and set a date to quit. Lower your blood pressure. Lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol. Manage your blood glucose and practice proper foot care if you have diabetes.

Prevent and control P.A.D. with these lifesaving steps: Follow a healthy eating plan to control your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose (for diabetes). Get regular exercise at least 3 or 4 times per week. If you have pain or cramps in your legs, ask your health care provider to refer you to a special P.A.D. exercise program.

How is P.A.D. treated? P.A.D. can be treated with lifestyle changes, medicines and endovascular or surgical procedures, if needed. Since people with P.A.D. are at high risk for heart attacks and stroke, they must take charge of controlling their risk factors related to cardiovascular disease.

Discuss P.A.D. with your physician Have your medical history available. Have a list of medications you are taking. Fill out a questionnaire to measure your risk factors.

Thank You Doctor’s Name Practice Name Address Phone Website Email For more information regarding PAD: www.apma.org www.PADcoalition.org The APMA would like to thank BioMedix Vascular Solutions, Inc for their educational support in facilitating the development of this educational presentation.