When you think of cardiovascular disease, you may conjure up dramatic images such as clutching your chest in pain or doing the same to your left arm. But some cardiovascular diseases have no symptoms at all, or the symptoms are so mild that you easily dismiss or ignore them. You might even mistake them as “normal” signs of aging.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is one of those silent killers. Over time — due to genetics, lifestyle choices, or a combination of both — your arteries become narrower as plaque adheres to your blood vessel walls. These obstructed blood vessels deprive your organs of blood and oxygen.
Your peripheral arteries are those that supply blood to your arms and legs. If you develop PAD, you may have subtle symptoms in your legs that you don’t recognize as a serious health threat. But untreated PAD can lead to limb amputation, heart attacks, and strokes.
As part of Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month, we at Laurelton Heart Specialists encourage you to take a proactive approach to your heart health. Our expert cardiologist, Dr. Ola Akinboboye, helps you recognize the signs of PAD and assess your risk of the disease at our office in Rosedale, Queens, New York.
How do you know if this silent killer is stalking you? The following are some signs that you may already have PAD.
Usually, the first symptom of PAD is something called intermittent claudication. Due to the lack of oxygen and blood circulating in your legs, you may experience pain when you exercise or even walk.
You may feel pain, aching, burning, or heaviness in your legs. They may also experience cramping or feel as though pins and needles are pricking them. Most commonly, the pain affects your calf muscles. But you can also feel it in your buttocks, thighs, or feet.
Claudication (i.e., pain while walking) can be mild at first. You might dismiss it as workout fatigue (if you exercise) or attribute it to varicose veins or another condition. One sign that the pain’s related to PAD is that it goes away while you rest or sleep.
A sign that your PAD has progressed is that your leg or foot pain doesn’t stop when you rest or sleep. That’s a complication called critical limb ischemia, which means your legs and feet aren’t getting enough oxygen. Please contact us immediately if you experience this symptom.
As your body tries to preserve its resources, your foot and leg skin, hair, and nails may be deprived of blood flow. Some signs that your PAD may be severe include:
Non-healing wounds, or ulcers, are a dangerous complication of PAD. They can become infected, which may lead to gangrene and possible amputation.
Does one of your feet feel colder than the other? If so, you may have PAD. Without enough blood circulating through the tissues, they can’t maintain their warmth.
You may also notice that one or both legs feel numb or extra heavy. You may experience difficulty walking or feel off-balance due to uneven sensations in your legs.
Additionally, you may notice a very weak pulse in your legs. With severe PAD, you may even experience pain in other areas of your body. For instance, it may hurt to use your arms. If you’re a man, you may have erectile dysfunction (ED).
Though symptoms may be missing or mild, PAD is a serious medical condition. When your arteries become clogged with cholesterol-based plaque, it reduces blood flow to your legs. Over time, that plaque can harden or become inflamed, which may then cause it to rupture.
A ruptured plaque can then cause a blood clot that further obstructs your arteries. The clot can also travel through your bloodstream to completely block an artery. If it blocks a carotid artery (i.e., the arteries in your neck), it can cause a stroke.
You can’t diagnose PAD on your own. If we suspect you have PAD or another cardiovascular disorder, we conduct a thorough workup, which may include tests such as stress testing, blood work, and an echocardiogram. We may also prescribe medications to improve blood flow, lower high blood pressure, and relieve pain.
Do you have signs of PAD? Call our expert team at 718-208-4816 or use our online outreach form to receive the care you need today.
