Paul Maurice turned to Inspira Rehab Services for pain relief and mobility after an ankle injury. He...
Read MorePeripheral artery disease happens when plaque buildup narrows the arteries that supply blood to the legs and feet. The reduced blood flow can cause leg pain or cramping during activity and signals an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
What Is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)?
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition in which fatty plaque builds up along the blood vessels in your feet and legs. Over time, this plaque causes the arterial walls to narrow and stiffen, reducing blood flow to muscles and tissues and leading to discomfort, cramping or fatigue during walking or other activities. In some cases, PAD can progress silently, becoming apparent only once significant narrowing has already happened.
Common Types of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
PAD can present in different ways depending on the severity and location of arterial narrowing:
- Asymptomatic PAD: Plaque buildup is present but hasn’t yet caused noticeable symptoms, so the condition is often detected by screening tests or during vascular exams
- Atypical leg symptoms: Leg pain, such as aching, heaviness or weakness, that doesn't fit the classic pattern of claudication
- Critical limb ischemia (CLI): Severe, persistent blood flow blockage that causes pain in the feet or toes while at rest, as well as nonhealing ulcers or gangrene, which can threaten limb viability
- Acute limb ischemia: A sudden blockage, often from a blood clot, that causes abrupt loss of blood flow, requiring immediate evaluation and treatment
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Risk Factors
Key risk factors for peripheral artery disease include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Aging, a family history of heart disease or stroke, obesity, lack of exercise and chronic kidney disease also raise your risk. Recognizing these factors early helps with prompt diagnosis and treatment.
What Are the Symptoms of PAD?
PAD often affects the legs and feet. Symptoms and signs of PAD can range from mild discomfort to more serious conditions, including:
- A weak or absent pulse
- Erectile dysfunction
- Leg numbness or weakness
- Coldness in the lower leg or foot
- Sores or wounds that won’t heal
- Changes in skin color or texture
- Hair loss or slower nail growth on legs and feet
- Intermittent claudication, cramping pain in the calf, thigh, buttock or foot that occurs with walking or activity and eases with rest
How Is PAD Diagnosed?
PAD is diagnosed through a physical exam, a review of symptoms and risk factors and tests to check blood flow. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) compares blood pressure in your ankle and arm to spot blockages. If needed, a Doppler ultrasound or arterial duplex scan can show artery health. In certain cases, CT or MR angiography provides detailed vessel images to pinpoint affected areas.
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Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Treatment Options
Wound Care
For patients with ulcers or nonhealing wounds, advanced wound care is essential to your treatment plan.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
This treatment involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber to stimulate healing in tissues with poor blood supply.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
Minimally invasive techniques such as angioplasty and stenting use small catheters to open narrowed arteries and restore blood flow without open surgery.
Surgical Interventions
In advanced cases, bypass surgery can reroute blood flow around severely blocked arteries. Your doctor may recommend surgery if other options aren’t effective or feasible.
Medications and Lifestyle Modifications
Quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet and exercising can slow PAD progression. Drugs such as antithrombotic agents, antiplatelet agents and cholesterol-lowering statins can help improve circulation.
Limb Salvage Strategies
A hands-on, multidisciplinary approach can help prevent amputation and preserve limb function, even in severe cases.
Our Approach to PAD Treatment
At Inspira, we deliver personalized PAD care using minimally invasive techniques and coordinated expertise. Our multidisciplinary team manages symptoms, boosts circulation and helps prevent limb loss. Many patients benefit from lifestyle support and medical therapy, reducing the need for surgery. We focus on fast recovery and lasting results, using advanced treatments to protect your health and mobility. Our approach helps you avoid hospitalization and return to daily activities sooner, so you can live life more fully.
