Millions of people in the United States are affected daily by peripheral artery disease, which is also known as PAD. This health condition is associated with a build-up of plaque in the walls of arteries in the body, which in turn makes them more narrow and hinders blood flow primarily to the legs and feet. If left untreated, or if the warning signs are not taken seriously upfront, peripheral arterial disease can cause larger health problems.
Vascular & Interventional Specialists is dedicated to helping patients throughout the Siouxland area understand how PAD can affect their daily lives and provide progressive treatment for PAD. While our primary mission is to provide screening, diagnosis, and treatment for PAD we are also passionate about helping patients understand their symptoms and encouraging them to seek a consultation if they’re worried about their health.
Learn more as we explore the four stages of PAD, so you can have a better idea of the warning signs and seek medical help when needed!
Stage One: Asymptomatic PAD
The first stage of PAD is often referred to as Asymptomatic PAD. In this stage, there are no noticeable symptoms, and an individual may not even be aware that they have PAD. The only way to detect peripheral arterial disease in this stage is through a medical exam or diagnostic test, such as an ankle-brachial index (ABI) or ultrasound.
Individuals who are at risk of PAD must get regular check-ups and screenings, since they may be asymptomatic and notice anything off with their bodies. The population of individuals who fit into the at-risk category includes:
- Patients over the age of 65
- Patients with a history of smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, or diabetes
Early detection of PAD is key to managing the condition and preventing serious complications, as this condition can grow and enter the following more serious stages.
Stage Two: Claudication
The second stage of PAD is known as claudication. During this stage, an individual may experience a cramping or burning sensation in their legs while walking or exercising. This pain typically improves with rest and may not be present during periods of inactivity, but it’s still important to seek peripheral arterial disease testing during this stage.
Claudication is a sign that there is decreased blood flow to the legs and feet, which is the result of the narrowing passageways in the body's arteries. While the pain may be manageable, Vascular & Interventional Specialists advise patients to not ignore these symptoms. Untreated PAD disease can progress to more severe stages which we’ll explain down below.
Stage Three: Critical Limb Ischemia
The third stage of PAD is critical limb ischemia (CLI), a chronic condition that is caused by an advanced, untreated stage of this disease. Patients diagnosed with this stage of PAD are at a greater risk for vascular death, amputation, heart attack, and stroke. CLI can be underdiagnosed and undertreated, which is why it is crucial to seek peripheral arterial disease treatment from Vascular & Interventional Specialists if you notice any warning signs. Symptoms of CLI may include:
- Two or more weeks of having pain while at rest
- Non-healing wounds
- Ulcers or gangrene in one or both legs
Stage Four: Acute Limb Ischemia
The final stage of peripheral arterial disease is acute limb ischemia (ALI), which is a serious medical emergency and needs immediate attention. When the PAD condition becomes so severe that it leads to ALI, blood flow to the limbs can suddenly decrease, causing severe pain, tingling, loss of pulse, coldness, and potentially paralysis. It may be compared to a heart attack or a stroke. Without quick medical intervention and treatment by a vascular specialist, ALI carries a very high chance of amputation of the affected limb. This is why it’s critical to get peripheral arterial disease treatment before the disease enters the CLI and ALI stages.
