Do you feel acute leg pain when walking? You may be suffering from Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a common but often overlooked condition that affects millions of people worldwide. One of its most noticeable symptoms is acute leg pain, particularly when walking, which is medically known as claudication. Peripheral Artery Disease is a narrowing on the inside of the peripheral arteries that carry blood away from the heart and transport it to the rest of the body parts. It often occurs due to a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries. This is known as Atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis exists when the arteries become narrow and hard due to the accumulation of plaque (often composed of cholesterol, calcium, fat, and other substances) around the wall of the artery. When these substances overtime collect around the walls of the artery, they harden up.Muscle pain or cramping while walking, pain usually in the calfWeakness or Numbness in the legsPain when using arms for general activitiesSores or ulcers on the legs that may heal slowly or don’t heal at allHair loss or decreased growth of hair on the legsOne foot may feel colder than the otherWeakened pulse in the legsIn case of extremities, complications may lead to critical limb ischemia (in which infections or blockages cause the tissues to die), or due to high levels of plaque being accumulated in the artery, the build-up can affect the heart and vessels in the brain, leading to the unfortunate case of a heart attack. How to Prevent PAD?In most cases, the usual advice comes across to make lifestyle changes. One can incorporate such changes in daily life, to improve their PAD condition. These are:Stop smoking: Smoking is one of the leading causes of PAD and cardiovascular disease.Manage chronic conditions: Keep diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol under control through medication and lifestyle changes.Exercise regularly: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week.Eat a heart-healthy diet: Focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Treatment of PAD:1. Lifestyle Modifications: An important part of PAD management is adopting healthy lifestyle changes. Regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, helps control cholesterol and blood pressure. Quitting smoking is crucial, as smoking is one of the leading causes of PAD and accelerates its progression.2. Aggressive Management of Pre-existing Conditions: For individuals with underlying conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, managing these effectively is essential to prevent PAD from worsening.3. Medications: Medications, such as antiplatelet drugs (blood thinners), are commonly prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots and enhance blood flow. Additionally, medications that relax the blood vessel walls may be used to ease the strain on the arteries and improve circulation.4. Surgical Interventions: In more severe cases of PAD, surgical options may be necessary to restore proper blood flow.Vascular surgery- This can involve a bypass graft, where a blood vessel from another part of the body or a synthetic tube is used to reroute blood flow around the blocked artery.Angioplasty- It is another common procedure to open up blocked arteries. It involves the insertion of a catheter, which may be fitted with different tools depending on the procedure.Amputation- In rare and extreme cases, if there is severe tissue damage, amputation may be necessary to prevent infection.(Article Courtesy: Dr. Saurabh Juneja, Director and Head of Department – CTVS, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre)