Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Facts

What is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

PAD, often called poor circulation in the legs, is a serious condition that dramatically increases  the risk of having a stroke or  heart attack.  Simply put, it’s a problem with blood flow in the arteries of the legs.  Plaque - made up of cholesterol and other materials - builds up on the walls of the arteries, restricting blood flow down the legs and into the feet.  When the arteries in your legs become blocked, your legs do not receive enough blood or oxygen which can result in pain in your hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, shins, or upper feet.

Warning Signs of PAD

• Claudication - fatigue, heaviness, tiredness, cramping in the leg muscles (buttocks, thigh, or calf) that occurs during activity such as walking or climbing stairs. This pain or discomfort goes away once the activity is stopped and during rest
• Pain in the legs and/or feet that disturbs sleep
• Sores or wounds on toes, feet, or legs that heal slowly, poorly, or not at all
• Color changes in the skin of the feet, including paleness or blueness
• A lower temperature in one leg compared to the other leg
• Poor nail growth and decreased hair growth on toes and legs

Facts

• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects about 8 - 12 million Americans age 40 and older.
• 1 in 20 people over the age of 50 has PAD
• People with PAD have an increased risk of stroke and heart disease

Despite its prevalence and cardiovascular risk implications, only 25% of PAD patients are undergoing treatment.

• In the general population, only about 10% of persons with P.A.D. have the classic symptoms of intermittent claudication. About 40% percent of P.A.D. patients do not complain of leg pain while the remaining 50% have a variety of leg symptoms different from classic claudication.
• Intermittent claudication is present in less than 1% of individuals under age 50 and approximately 5% or more in those over age 80.
• The risk factors for PAD are similar to those for coronary heart disease, although diabetes and cigarette smoking are particularly strong risk factors for PAD.
• PAD is a marker for systemic atherosclerotic disease. Persons with PAD, compared to those without, have four to five times the risk of dying of a cardiovascular event, resulting in a two to three times higher total mortality risk.
• African-American ethnicity is a strong and independent risk factor for P.A.D. African-Americans have a higher P.A.D. prevalence than non-Hispanic whites.
• Complications of PAD include open sores that don't heal, as well as injury or infection of your feet and legs, especially if you also have diabetes.
• Stroke and heart attack are among the more serious and most common complications that accompany peripheral arterial disease.