Peripheral Arterial Disease

What is peripheral arterial disease?

PAD is a circulatory problem in which arteries become narrow and reduce blood flow to your legs. If this occurs you might experience leg pain and other unpleasant symptoms or have a higher risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack, or stroke.

What are the symptoms of peripheral artery disease?

If you have PAD, you might notice the following signs or symptoms:

• Leg weakness or numbness
• Cramping or pain
• Calf pain with walking
• Coldness in your legs or feet
• Toe, feet, or leg sores
• Leg discoloration
• Slow toenail or leg hair growth
• A weak pulse in your feet or legs
• Shiny skin on your legs
• Erectile dysfunction in men

Leg pain might make it difficult for you to get a good night’s sleep. At the first sign of PAD, see Dr. Kasha and his team for an evaluation. 

What are the risk factors for PAD?

While PAD can happen to anyone, certain factors increase your risk of experiencing it. Examples include smoking, obesity, older age, diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol also increases your chance of developing PAD. Complications may include sores, infection, pain, or even more serious problems such as limb loss.

How does my provider diagnose PAD?

To find out if you have PAD, Dr. Kasha reviews your symptoms and medical history and completes a comprehensive physical exam. He might also recommend an ultrasound and/or checking the blood pressure in your ankle and arm.

Dr. Kasha and his team might recommend an ultrasound and/or angiography to evaluate blood flow through your arteries, as well as blood tests. What are my PAD treatment options?

If you have PAD, Dr. Kasha and his team might recommend the following treatments:

Lifestyle changes

Maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce PAD and its symptoms. Don’t smoke, keep blood sugar under control, get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, and keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Other lifestyle changes may be recommended as well.

Medications

Taking medications can help you better control blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Some medicines reduce your risk of developing blood clots or relieve unpleasant symptoms associated with PAD.

Surgical procedures

In the case of narrowed or blocked arteries, Dr. Kasha might refer you to a specialist who may recommend angioplasty with stenting, bypass surgery, or clot-dissolving injections to break up blood clots.

At the first sign of PAD, call Desert West Vein & Surgery Center or schedule an appointment online today.