PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE (PAD)

“Peripheral artery disease is a disease of the blood vessels outside the heart. This condition is caused by a narrowing of vessels that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is often used interchangeably with the term “peripheral vascular disease (PVD).” The term “PAD” is recommended to describe this condition because it includes venous in addition to arterial disorders.” (American Heart Association).

PAD is mostly found in the lower body, especially the lower legs and feet. It can, however, be found in many other areas and cause damage to organs like the kidneys and lungs, where extensive blood flow is needed.

Common Causes of Peripheral Artery Disease:

Typically, peripheral arteries are narrowed by fatty buildups on the inside arterial walls called plaques. These plaques are formed to “patch” damaged arterial walls, and as this process recurs, the plaques stack up and narrow the inside diameters of arteries and stiffen their walls, reducing the efficient flow of blood.

This “plaquing” goes on in all parts of your body, and it’s somewhat normal with aging. There are, however, things that can accelerate the process; poor diet, type II diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, and inactivity are examples.

This plaque and fatty buildup along with the stiffening of arteries is called atherosclerosis. What I have offered you is a simple description. For those of you wanting a deeper explanation, here is an easy-to-read article about this condition, its causes, and its complications – one of which is peripheral artery disease.

PAD Symptoms Leg and Foot:

PAD Statistics:

Worldwide, peripheral artery disease is ubiquitous and very underdiagnosed. It is usually diagnosed in its advanced stages, well past the intermittent claudication stage where it is most treatable.

Statistically, 5 to 9 percent of people will be diagnosed with PAD at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, 17 to 20 percent of people will have it in various undiagnosed stages. Since atherosclerosis is intimately related to PAD, the prevalence of peripheral artery diseases is likely much higher than we suspect, and according to the data, it’s on the rise.

It is shocking that 150,000 lower limb amputations take place in the US alone every year. Most of these are due to a loss of blood flow to the lower limbs and feet. The feet literally die and have to be cut off.

So what else can happen?

For the sake of simplicity, I have focused on damage to the lower limbs. In reality, every part of one’s body is subject to an artery closing up and stopping blood flow. So while it’s most common in the lower legs and feet, it can and does happen in many other places,

Heart attacks and strokes are examples. Usually, the arteries are narrowed by atherosclerotic plaques, and then a blood clot is caught in the “squeeze point” (my term). Once this happens, blood flow is partially or completely shut off. You can read about clotting here: CLOTS.

Livers, kidneys, intestines, and other vital organs are also subject to the same fate. By definition, these incidents are not referred to as peripheral artery disease, but the same series of events occur: arterial wall damage > plaque buildup > and clot. This sequence can happen anywhere in your system.

OK, so what can you do now?

First things first:

Up to the point of total failure and foot amputation, there are things you can do. Don’t give up. See your doctor and get expert advice. You probably know you have a problem to begin with, so discuss your options with a professional. Do what they say – as the saying goes; “take the pills and do the drills.”

Depending on your situation, options go from lifestyle changes to surgery to amputation. If you’re a diabetic, you probably know this, and know what to do, and what not to do. A process called peripheral artery disease is going forward in your body, and it will kill you if you don’t respect its danger and resist it.

OK, that’s enough tuff talk. I hope that if you’re in this situation, you’ll keep fighting.

What next:

Whether you’re one of the 8 percent of people with PAD or one of the possible 20 percent who have it but don’t know it, you need to proceed as if you have it. So actually, this advice is for everyone.

Peruse this article. Then take some actions:

1. Stop using tobacco:

Without a doubt, the use of tobacco, especially cigarettes, is a major cause of peripheral artery disease. Since cigarette smoke is inhaled, this is like a hypodermic injection of toxic materials directly into your bloodstream.

Pipes and cigars are somewhat less damaging because they are not typically inhaled. It’s the same with smokeless tobacco like chewing tobacco and snuff. Although chewing tobacco and “dipping” snuff are disgusting habits on their own, they do not kill you by putting tobacco into your lungs – you’ll have to settle for oral or esophageal cancer.

Tobacco and all kinds of problems go together; just stop using it altogether – there’s no upside.

2. Lose weight and eat a Low-Glycemic diet.

Sugar is the enemy; avoid it. Use tools that are available to help you design low glycemic diets. My favorite is Cronometer. This is software that lets you design balanced meals and special meals as well. This is especially useful if you’re diabetic.

3. Follow a Reasonable Strength Training Program:

First, find out what real exercise is, then start this simple beginner plan.

Why should I strength train? Can’t I just walk every day? Well, sure, you can, but in order for walking to be a strength training exercise, it has to incorporate more than just walking (intermittent push-ups and squats, for example).

You see, peripheral artery disease is a vascular condition brought on by atherosclerosis. Strength-building exercises increase and reinforce your muscle’s vasculature. Walking might do this a little. but strength training does it a lot.

Ten to twenty properly executed squats per day will do wonders for your legs and feet (doing them barefoot and pretending to dig your toes into the floor is even better). Yes, you might have to work up to this, but the return will be much greater than just walking.

Follow the beginner plan, but if you want to stick with walking, start your walk with ten push-ups and end it with twenty squats. With these simple changes, you’ll be building strength and vasculature. Your vasculature is not static, it’s dynamic. Strength training enhances blood flow and vascular growth.

Finally:

The things I just pointed out are things you should be doing anyway. Just check with your health care provider to see if it’s OK. Peripheral artery disease is positively correlated with age. Assume you have it and take action. The things I laid out above are good for you, so just get started.

PAD has no recognizable beginning and can be fairly advanced before its discovered. Be safe, don’t be sorry.

OMY1

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