What is Peripheral Arterial Disease? PAD?

Excerpted from the Will Rogers Institute

Today, many Americans are discovering they have PAD, thanks to a national PAD awareness campaign. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a sponsor of the campaign, points out that PAD awareness is very important because one in every 20 Americans over the age of 50 has PAD.

PAD develops when plaque (extra cholesterol and other fats) builds up in the walls of the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the legs, arms, head, kidneys and stomach. Just like narrowed arteries in the heart, narrowed arteries in the legs increase a person’s risk for having a heart attack or stroke. PAD may also limit a person’s mobility and in some cases lead to amputation.

Most people with PAD do not experience symptoms, but those who do report some of the following signs:

~Pain, fatigue, heaviness, tiredness cramping in legs that occurs during activity
~Pain in the legs and/or feet that disturbs sleep
~A lower temperature in one leg
~Sores or wounds on toes, feet or legs that heal slowly, poorly or not at all
~Paleness or blueness in the color of feet
~Poor nail and hair growth

There are other factors that may be preludes to PAD. You may have two of the following risk factors associated with PAD:

50 years of age or older
Smoker or former smoker
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol
History of vascular disease, heart attack or stroke
African American

I suggest you see your doctor and discuss your risks for developing PAD. Also, learn more about PAD by clicking any of these hyperlinks

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524