What Is PAD

Peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.) is a condition in which plaque accumulates in the arteries responsible for carrying blood to your organs, head and limbs. Plaque is comprised of cholesterol, fat, fibrous tissues, calcium, and other substances found in blood.

Atherosclerosis occurs as plaque builds up in the arteries. This plaque can harden over time, narrowing the arteries and restricting the movement of oxygenated blood to your head, organs, and limbs.

In most patients, P.A.D. affects the arteries in the lower extremities. It can affect patient's arteries that move blood from the kidneys, head, stomach and arms, but this article deals with P.A.D. in relation to the legs.

Pain and numbness of the legs is one result of restricted blood flow, another is an increased risk for infection of the legs. An ancillary risk is the difficulty your body may face in fighting off the infection if it occurs.

If the condition is severe, restricted blood flow can cause gangrene and tissue death. In the most extreme cases, gangrene can result in the amputation of the leg.

If you have pain in the legs when you climb stairs or even just walk, be sure to consult with your doctor. Older patients may believe that aching legs are just symptomatic of age, but the pain could be being caused by P.A.D. Discuss the pain in your lower extremities with your physician, and ask if a test for P.A.D. is right for you.

The main risk factor for P.A.D. is smoking. Smokers or those who have smoked in the past face a four times higher risk for P.A.D. than other patients. Increased age and other medical conditions are also P.A.D. risk factors to be aware of.

P.A.D. increases your risk factor for heart attack, stroke, transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes), and coronary heart/artery disease (C.H.D.). Patients suffering from C.H.D. have a 30% chance of suffering from blocked arteries in the legs.

Serious as P.A.D. is, it is manageable. Seeing your doctor regularly and treating the atherosclerosis are the first steps in treatment.

Treating P.A.D. can reduce the disease in progress and even halt it and any related complications. Medicine, lifestyle changes and surgery procedures are all P.A.D. treatments available, and researchers are still looking into new P.A.D. therapies.

What Is PAD

Peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.) is a condition in which plaque accumulates in the arteries responsible for carrying blood to your organs, head and limbs. Plaque is comprised of cholesterol, fat, fibrous tissues, calcium, and other substances found in blood.

Atherosclerosis occurs as plaque builds up in the arteries. This plaque can harden over time, narrowing the arteries and restricting the movement of oxygenated blood to your head, organs, and limbs.

In most patients, P.A.D. affects the arteries in the lower extremities. It can affect patient's arteries that move blood from the kidneys, head, stomach and arms, but this article deals with P.A.D. in relation to the legs.

Pain and numbness of the legs is one result of restricted blood flow, another is an increased risk for infection of the legs. An ancillary risk is the difficulty your body may face in fighting off the infection if it occurs.

If the condition is severe, restricted blood flow can cause gangrene and tissue death. In the most extreme cases, gangrene can result in the amputation of the leg.

If you have pain in the legs when you climb stairs or even just walk, be sure to consult with your doctor. Older patients may believe that aching legs are just symptomatic of age, but the pain could be being caused by P.A.D. Discuss the pain in your lower extremities with your physician, and ask if a test for P.A.D. is right for you.

The main risk factor for P.A.D. is smoking. Smokers or those who have smoked in the past face a four times higher risk for P.A.D. than other patients. Increased age and other medical conditions are also P.A.D. risk factors to be aware of.

P.A.D. increases your risk factor for heart attack, stroke, transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes), and coronary heart/artery disease (C.H.D.). Patients suffering from C.H.D. have a 30% chance of suffering from blocked arteries in the legs.

Serious as P.A.D. is, it is manageable. Seeing your doctor regularly and treating the atherosclerosis are the first steps in treatment.

Treating P.A.D. can reduce the disease in progress and even halt it and any related complications. Medicine, lifestyle changes and surgery procedures are all P.A.D. treatments available, and researchers are still looking into new P.A.D. therapies.

Carotid Artery Disease

A disease where plaque builds inside carotid arteries is called Carotid Artery Disease, also called CAD.  Each person has two main carotid arteries, one on each side of the neck, which divides into internal and external carotid arteries.

These external arteries bring oxygen-enriched blood to people’s scalp, face, and neck, while the internal arteries bring fresh blood to the brain.

Without blood flow to your brain, a stroke occurs, also known as a brain attack.  This is why CAD is so serious.

Brain cells start to die within a few minutes of a lack of blood and oxygen, impairing the ability of the brain to control different parts of the body.  Side effects of a stroke include long term disability, brain damage, vision and speech problems, and at worst, death.

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries and hardens, narrowing the arteries, and limiting blood flow to other parts of the body.

Atherosclerosis can occur in any part of the body, causing heart attacks in the coronary arteries and strokes in the carotid arteries.

If a carotid artery cracks or ruptures a stroke can occur due to blood platelets clumping together to form clots which can in turn partially or fully block an artery.

Another way in which a stoke happens is if a piece of plaque or clot breaks away from the arterial wall and travels through the blood stream to get stuck in one of the brains more minute arteries, blocking oxygen rich blood flow.

Sadly, a stroke is the first sign of the disease because there may not be any symptoms until the carotid arteries are badly blocked or narrowed.

More than half of the strokes in the United States are caused by carotid artery disease, although certain heart problems and brain bleeding can also cause strokes.

Reducing the risk of stroke and preventing and treating CAD may include lifestyle changes, medical procedures, and medicines.

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you are showing signs of a stroke.  Although you need urgent treatment, do not drive yourself to the hospital.

If a clogged artery is treated within four hours there is the best chance for complete recovery, and the sooner you are treated, the better you will respond to the course of action.

Carotid Artery Disease

A disease where plaque builds inside carotid arteries is called Carotid Artery Disease, also called CAD.  Each person has two main carotid arteries, one on each side of the neck, which divides into internal and external carotid arteries.

These external arteries bring oxygen-enriched blood to people’s scalp, face, and neck, while the internal arteries bring fresh blood to the brain.

Without blood flow to your brain, a stroke occurs, also known as a brain attack.  This is why CAD is so serious.

Brain cells start to die within a few minutes of a lack of blood and oxygen, impairing the ability of the brain to control different parts of the body.  Side effects of a stroke include long term disability, brain damage, vision and speech problems, and at worst, death.

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries and hardens, narrowing the arteries, and limiting blood flow to other parts of the body.

Atherosclerosis can occur in any part of the body, causing heart attacks in the coronary arteries and strokes in the carotid arteries.

If a carotid artery cracks or ruptures a stroke can occur due to blood platelets clumping together to form clots which can in turn partially or fully block an artery.

Another way in which a stoke happens is if a piece of plaque or clot breaks away from the arterial wall and travels through the blood stream to get stuck in one of the brains more minute arteries, blocking oxygen rich blood flow.

Sadly, a stroke is the first sign of the disease because there may not be any symptoms until the carotid arteries are badly blocked or narrowed.

More than half of the strokes in the United States are caused by carotid artery disease, although certain heart problems and brain bleeding can also cause strokes.

Reducing the risk of stroke and preventing and treating CAD may include lifestyle changes, medical procedures, and medicines.

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you are showing signs of a stroke.  Although you need urgent treatment, do not drive yourself to the hospital.

If a clogged artery is treated within four hours there is the best chance for complete recovery, and the sooner you are treated, the better you will respond to the course of action.