What causes peripheral arterial disease?
PAD develops when cholesterol and other fats accumulate in the artery wall, a condition called atherosclerosis. As the fatty plaque enlarges, it limits or stops the flow of blood.
You can develop PAD in any of the arteries located outside your heart, but it typically occurs in your legs.
What symptoms develop if I have peripheral arterial disease?
When plaque gets large enough to significantly block the flow of blood, you may experience symptoms like:
- Pain in your legs and buttocks when you’re active
- Lower temperature in the affected leg
- Leg fatigue, numbness, and weakness
- Hair loss on the affected leg
- Poor or decreased nail growth in your toes
- Skin changes on the affected leg
- Slow-healing ulcers on your legs, feet, or toes
Loss of blood to your lower legs and feet means that the tissues are deprived of oxygen. This leads to open wounds called ulcers that don’t heal without intensive wound care.
In severe cases, lack of oxygen causes tissue death and leads to the risk of amputation.
Am I at risk of developing arterial disease?
The risk factors that contribute to arterial disease include:
- Being older than 40
- Being a smoker (either now or in the past)
- Having diabetes
- Having high cholesterol
- Having high blood pressure
- Having a personal or family history of heart attack or stroke
Your risk is also higher if you’re overweight or obese.
How is peripheral arterial disease treated?
After performing an ultrasound to evaluate your arteries and determine the size of the blockage, Dr. Revana creates an individualized treatment plan.
Dr. Revana prescribes lifestyle changes and medications to treat underlying conditions that contribute to atherosclerosis, such as hypertension and high cholesterol. Your treatment for the plaque depends on the size of the blockage and your symptoms.
When Dr. Revana determines the plaque should be removed, he recommends minimally invasive endovascular procedures such as:
Angioplasty and stenting
After making a tiny incision, Dr. Revana inserts a catheter into a blood vessel and guides it to the blockage. Then he inflates a balloon that restores blood flow by pushing the plaque against the artery wall.
In some cases, he also deploys a stent, which stays in the artery to hold it open.
Atherectomy
If the plaque is too hard to push aside with a balloon, Dr. Revana uses a catheter equipped with a blade that can cut away the plaque or grind it into microscopic pieces.
If you develop leg pain, don’t wait to schedule an appointment by calling Northeast Houston Vein Center or using the online booking feature today.
