Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a term used to classify all non-coronary arterial  diseases. It is a buildup of plaque in the walls of arteries, which reduces or blocks the flow of blood to your limbs.  PAD affects  8-12 million people in the United Staes. The risk of PAD increases with age. Some minority groups are more  than twice as likely  to have PAD.

    Symptoms of PAD:

• Fatigue in leg muscles(buttocks, thigh or calf)that occurs during activities such as walking or climbing stairs.
• Pain in 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
• Lower temperture in one leg compared with the other leg
• Poor Nail Growth and decreased hair growth on toes and legs

    What puts me at risk :

• The risk of PAD increases dramatically with age
• Those who smoke or have a history of smoking have a greater risk of     developing  PAD
• One in three people over the age of 50 with diabetes is likely to have PAD
• Excessive cholesterol and fat in your blood contribute to the formation of plaque  in arteries, reducing or blocking blood flow to your heart, brain or limbs
• If you have heart disease , you have a one in three chances of also having PAD
• Elevated  blood presure raises the risk of developing plaque in the arteries
• Some minority groups are more than twice likely to have PAD

   How is PAD diagnosed :

• Conversation with Provider
• Ask about your risk factors
• Discuss your medical and family history

Physical Exam:

• Pulse in your legs and feet to determine if there is sufficient blood flow
• Color, tempture and apprearance of your legs and feet
• Signs of poor wound healing on the legs and feet

    Diagnostic Tests:

• Ankle-brachial index (ABI)compares blood pressure in the arm and leg
• Doppler ultrasound measures blood flow to determine which arteries are narrowed      or blocked

  How is it treated 

• Plaque excision –removal of plaque with catheter base device
• Angioplasty– enlargement of a narrowed artery with a small balloon
• Stent– expansion of narrowed artery through a permanment mesh metal tube.
• A surgical procedure to bypass the blocked artery