Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peachstate Advanced Cardiac & Endovascular

Board Certified Interventional Cardiologist & Vascular Specialist located throughout Georgia.

More than 18 million people in the United States suffer from peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a debilitating condition that, when left untreated, can lead to severe pain and even limb amputation. To avoid PAD complications, board-certified interventional cardiologist and vascular specialist Oghenerukevwe Odiete, MD, FACC, at Peachstate Advanced Cardiac and Endovascular (PACE) located throughout Georgia, offers a comprehensive diagnosis and personalized treatment plan. For more information, contact Peachstate Advanced Cardiac and Endovascular (PACE).

Peripheral Arterial Disease Q & A

What is peripheral arterial disease?

Peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, is a serious condition in which your arteries become narrowed or blocked, leading to poor blood circulation in your limbs. This often occurs as a result of fat and cholesterol buildup in your blood.

While many people mistake PAD for poor circulation, the disease is more serious than that. Without proper treatment, peripheral arterial disease raises your risk of heart attack, stroke, and limb amputation.

What are the symptoms of peripheral arterial disease?

Some of the most common symptoms of peripheral arterial disease include:

Hip pain
Thigh and leg pain
Foot pain
Leg weakness
Buttock pain
Loss of leg hair
Erectile dysfunction
Shiny leg skin
Leg color changes
Legs that feel cooler than your arms

You can have narrowed arteries and blockages with no limb pain at all, so talk to Dr. Odiete at Peachstate Advanced Cardiac and Endovascular (PACE) if you have any of the following PAD risks.

High blood pressure
Obesity
Family history of PAD
Inactivity
Smoking
High cholesterol
Diabetes

Most people with peripheral arterial disease are over the age of 50, but you can still get PAD if you’re younger.

How is peripheral arterial disease diagnosed?

Dr. Odiete performs a full physical exam if he suspects you have PAD. During this exam, he reviews your medical history, asks questions about your lifestyle, and asks about your family health history. He also checks the blood flow in your legs to ensure you have optimal blood circulation.

Other tests that Dr. Odiete may recommend to check for peripheral arterial disease include:

Ultrasound
Blood test to check for high cholesterol
Angiogram
Ankle-brachial index

After a proper diagnosis, Peachstate Advanced Cardiac and Endovascular (PACE) can determine the right treatment plan for you.

How is peripheral arterial disease treated?

The goal of peripheral arterial disease treatment is to avoid amputation, especially if you have critical limb ischemia — the most severe form of PAD, characterized by gangrene, ulcers, and intolerable leg pain.

Peachstate Advanced Cardiac and Endovascular (PACE) provides a number of limb salvage techniques to help prevent amputation, such as:

Atherectomy

Atherectomy is a procedure that removes plaque buildup in the arteries to improve blood flow in the limbs. It is possible to combine the procedure with balloon angioplasty, a type of surgery that widens the blood vessels.

Stenting

Stenting involves placing a small tube in your narrowed or clogged arteries to improve blood flow and prevent future backups.

In addition to the above PAD treatments, lifestyle changes such as weight loss, healthy eating, exercise, and quitting smoking can help improve blood circulation in your limbs.

Contact Peachstate Advanced Cardiac and Endovascular (PACE) to learn more about peripheral arterial disease treatments.

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