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Do You Know the Signs of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)?

WakeMed Heart & Vascular Heart & Vascular

September is Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Awareness Month, a disease that affects more than eight million Americans ages 40 and older. Common risk factors include the following:

  • A history of smoking
  • Kidney problems
  • Diabetes
  • Overweight/obesity
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol.

Your risk increases with age, and incidence of PAD is higher among African Americans.

While leg pain is common in older adults for many reasons, it can also be a tell-tale sign of PAD. About one in four patients with PAD report pain, fatigue, heaviness and tiredness or cramping in the leg muscles. In the early stages of PAD, these feelings occur only during activity, but they go away when the legs are at rest. Some patients also experience leg numbness or weakness, color changes in the skin of the feet, including paleness or blueness. One leg may be cool to the touch when compared to the other leg.

These symptoms occur because PAD is caused by narrowing of the arteries in the legs, which reduces blood flow or circulation to the limbs. Often known as the “cousin” of heart disease, PAD is another form of atherosclerosis – which is why 50-75 percent of patients with PAD also suffer from heart disease or coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Risks of PAD

First and foremost, PAD can have a real impact on quality of life. Leg pain can affect your ability to do the things you enjoy doing most — as well as the routine activities of daily life. When simple things like grocery shopping or playing with grandchildren become painful — it’s important to check in with a healthcare professional.

It’s also important to note that patients with PAD are at a greater risk for developing wounds due to limited blood flow. For patients with PAD, wounds can worsen quickly if left untreated.

“Peripheral artery disease often goes undiagnosed or untreated, which can cause serious health problems such as hard-to-heal wounds. Without proper treatment, these wounds can lead to unnecessary amputation,” explains Christopher McQuinn, MD, WakeMed Heart & Vascular – Vascular Surgery. “Fortunately, with early intervention and comprehensive care, patients can improve quality of life and prevent lower limb loss. Our goal is to help patients understand their disease and to keep it under control with a multidisciplinary approach.”

The White Sock: Raising Awareness for PAD

This September, the team at WakeMed’s Comprehensive Wound Healing Center showed their support for patients with PAD by wearing one white sock. The white sock is worn in honor of the many patients with late-stage PAD from across the country who have had to undergo an amputation due to delayed treatment. Our team is dedicated to educating patients on the risks of delayed treatment for PAD.

Diagnosing and Treating PAD

PAD is generally diagnosed by a vascular surgeon, who may perform a physical exam and testing to evaluate blood flow.  Treatment often begins with a conservative approach to include lifestyle modifications and/or medications aimed at reducing risk factors (e.g. increasing exercise, smoking cessation, prescribing statins or beta blockers, etc.). There are also procedural options to help improve circulation, such as angioplasty and stent placement or bypass surgery.

For patients with advanced disease and hard-to-heal wounds, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can

increase oxygen levels in the blood stream, allowing damaged tissues to regenerate and heal faster. Without proper wound care treatment for wounds related to PAD complications, the tissue in the skin may continue to die, or infection may continue to spread; amputation may be the only option to stop spreading tissue damage and infection. For those with PAD, wound care is essential.

WakeMed Wound Care Center

Located in the Medical Park of Cary, WakeMed’s Wound Care Center is Cary’s first and only outpatient Wound Care Center. Led by a multidisciplinary team that includes board-certified vascular surgeons, podiatrists, general surgeons, foot and ankle specialists, orthopedic surgeons and breast surgeons, the Center offers:

  • Diagnostic testing (can include vascular testing, blood tests, x-rays)
  • Nutritional evaluation
  • Infection control
  • Specialized dressings
  • Pressure-relieving devices
  • Debridement (removal of dead or infected tissue)
  • Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy
  • Patient education
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