Symptoms
PAD Symptoms
An estimated 8-12 million people in the U.S. have peripheral arterial disease (PAD).1 The leg pain associated with PAD can be so extreme that patients may have difficulty walking short distances. However, PAD is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed because patients are either asymptomatic or dismiss their symptoms as part of the normal aging process.The most common symptoms of PAD include:
- Cramps, tiredness or pain in the legs, thighs or buttocks that occurs while walking and subsides during rest
- Foot, toe or leg pain at rest that often disturbs sleep
- Foot or toe wounds that will not heal or heal very slowly
- A marked decrease in the lower leg/foot temperature, particularly compared to the other leg or rest of the body
- Numbness or tingling in the leg, foot or toes
Diagnosis
PAD can be extremely painful, debilitating and can eventually lead to amputation and death. If a patient has symptoms associated with PAD, several tests can be performed to help make a diagnosis.Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)
A simple, non-invasive test, which can be done in the doctor’s office, is used to measure and compare the rate of blood pressure in the ankle to that in the arm. A lower pressure in the ankle may indicate PAD.
Doppler Ultrasound
This is a non-invasive test, which uses sound waves to measure blood flow in a vessel and can determine if there is a blockage.
A simple, non-invasive test, which can be done in the doctor’s office, is used to measure and compare the rate of blood pressure in the ankle to that in the arm. A lower pressure in the ankle may indicate PAD.
Doppler Ultrasound
This is a non-invasive test, which uses sound waves to measure blood flow in a vessel and can determine if there is a blockage.
To make a final assessment, the patient may undergo angiography.
Angiography
This minimally invasive procedure involves injecting a dye into the arteries. Typically, the physician can see the blockage on the angiogram images.
This minimally invasive procedure involves injecting a dye into the arteries. Typically, the physician can see the blockage on the angiogram images.
Check with your doctor if you have any of the symptoms listed above.