Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs.
When you develop PAD, your extremities (usually your legs) don’t receive enough blood flow. This causes symptoms, most notably leg pain when walking.
Peripheral artery disease is also likely to be a sign of a more widespread accumulation of fatty deposits in your arteries (atherosclerosis). This condition may be reducing blood flow to your heart and brain, as well as your legs.
Indications:
- Painful cramping in your hip, thigh or calf muscles after activity- walking/climbing stairs
- Leg numbness or weakness
- Coldness in your lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other side
- Sores on your toes, feet or legs that won’t heal
Risk factors:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity (a body mass index over 30)
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Increasing age, especially after reaching 50 years of age
- A family history of peripheral artery disease, heart disease, or stroke
Diagnosis:
PAD is easily diagnosed in a simple, painless way using a Vista AVS machine. This device will detect blood flow in veins and arteries and as an aid for the diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease. The unit includes a sensitive, bidirectional Doppler system, arterial photoplethysmograph (PPG), and a pressure system that provides inflation, controlled deflation, and pulse volume recording (PVR) capabilities.
