What Is the Best Treatment for Peripheral Artery Disease?

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is caused by atherosclerosis that is a gradual buildup of fat and cholesterol that forms plaques in the walls of the arteries making them narrow. The walls of the arteries also become stiff and cannot dilate easily. This reduces the flow of blood in the peripheral arteries, the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body.

Risk factors for PAD:

PAD is relatively a common disorder, often affecting people older than the age of 65 years. People are at a higher risk if they have the following conditions:

• High cholesterol
• High triglycerides
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Heart disease 
• Kidney disease involving hemodialysis
• Stroke
• Metabolic syndrome
• Excess levels of C-reactive protein or homocysteine
• Family history
• Unhealthy eating habits, no physical activity, and stress

Most patients do not experience any symptoms. Symptoms of peripheral artery disease (PAD) include:

• Intermittent claudication—muscle pain or cramping in the calf, thigh, or hip while walking or climbing stairs that goes away with rest
• Pain at rest in the toes or feet in patients with severe PAD
• Tingling or feeling of pins and needles in the lower legs or feet
• Leg weakness or numbness
• Loss of hair on the legs
• Legs that are cooler than the arms or one leg cooler than the other
• Sores or ulcers on the legs or feet that don’t heal or heal slowly
• Brittle toenails
• Slow toenail growth
• Skin on the legs becomes shiny or pale or bluish
• Weak pulse in the leg
• Erectile dysfunction

The complications of peripheral artery disease (PAD) are as follows:

• Critical limb ischemia: This condition begins as an open sore, ulcer, or infection in the feet or legs that don't heal. It occurs when the blood vessel is narrowed to more than 60%. The resultant ulcer or infection progresses and causes tissue death. Sometimes, amputation of the affected limb may be required.
• Stroke and heart attack: Atherosclerosis that causes PAD also buildup in the arteries supplying blood to the heart and brain. Narrowing in the brain causes cerebrovascular disease and in the heart causes coronary artery disease, leading to stroke and heart attack, respectively.