Healing Peripheral Artery Disease from the Inside Out

What is Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)? 

Peripheral Arterial Disease, or PAD, affects millions of people. PAD patients may struggle with disease management due to pain in the legs and/or feet, sores or wounds on the toes, feet or legs that heal slowly, poorly or not at all, and limb loss, amongst other symptoms. The mortality rate for those with gangrenous foot ulcers is generally 50-70% over a 5-year period. Early detection and treatment of PAD are crucial.  

PAD is a common but serious disease that happens when the arteries in your arms or legs get narrower or is caused by a buildup of fat (called plaque), making it harder for blood to flow properly.  

Over time, plaque builds up in the artery walls, including the ones that bring blood to your legs. This can slow down blood flow to your muscles and other parts of your legs. PAD can make it difficult to walk, and if it’s not treated, it could even cause tissue damage. In some cases, providers may need to remove part of the leg to save your health. 

If you have PAD, there’s a good chance you also have plaque in other arteries, which raises the risk of heart attacks or strokes. 

What are the symptoms? 

Many people with PAD don’t notice any symptoms. Common symptoms include getting cramps in your legs while walking around. This might include a tight, aching, or squeezing pain in your calf, thigh or buttocks. This pain, called intermittent claudication, usually happens after walking a certain distance.  

Other signs might include weak or tired legs. You could also have trouble walking or balancing. 

If PAD gets worse, you may notice more problems, like cold, tingly, weak, or numb feet and/or toes. Your feet might have sores that heal slowly, or you might feel pain in your legs or feet even when you’re resting. The skin on your legs or feet might change color, looking pale, bluish or purple. It may also look shiny or have blisters. 

How can you help prevent PAD? 

Here are some things you can do to help prevent PAD: 

• Quit smoking or using nicotine products (like vaping). Smoking is one of the main causes of PAD, so quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health. Ask your provider for help if you need it. 

• Eat a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, lean meats, fish, and whole grains. Try to limit sugary foods, alcohol, and salt. 

• Exercise regularly. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Activities like walking, swimming, or biking are great choices. Ask your provider which exercises are best for you. 

• Stay at a healthy weight for your body. If you need help losing weight, talk to your provider. 

• Get enough sleep — about 7 to 9 hours each night. 

• Manage other health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. If you think you might have an alcohol or drug problem, talk to your provider for help. 

How is PAD treated at ChristianaCare? 

When it comes to treating Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), our providers don’t just focus on fixing the blocked arteries—they also work to heal your whole body. While they perform procedures to clear blockages, they also make sure to address other important health issues that can help you stay healthier in the long run. 

Here’s how our providers go beyond just the procedure to help you heal: 

Checking the heart: One of the first things we do is make sure there are no blockages in the arteries near your heart. This is important because heart problems can make PAD worse. If there are blockages, our providers will treat those, too. 

Preventing PAD with medications: There are medicines available that can help prevent PAD from getting worse. These medicines help lower the risk of developing more blockages in your arteries. This is something that sets PAD treatment apart from other types of vascular surgery or procedures because our providers focus on prevention as well as treatment. 

Regular check-ins: Our providers don’t just treat you once and send you on your way. They hold monthly meetings to talk about your case, check if your cholesterol and A1C levels (which show how well your blood sugar is controlled) are in a healthy range and make sure your treatment plan is working. These regular check-ups are important for making sure you’re staying on track. 

Screening for strokes and heart attacks: PAD can increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack, so our providers regularly check for signs of these serious issues. This helps them catch problems early and give you the right treatment. 

Re-establishing blood flow: If you have a wound in your foot or cramps in your legs, providers work to get the blood flowing again. For example, if there’s a wound, it’s important to improve blood flow to help the wound heal. While cramps in your calves might not feel urgent, they still need to be addressed to avoid future problems. 

Focusing on prevention: What’s most important is preventing PAD from getting worse. Our providers focus on the long-term, teaching you how to manage your health with a healthy diet, exercise and regular check-ups. They don’t just treat the problem—they work to stop it from coming back. 

Understanding the big picture: When our providers perform a procedure like putting in a stent to open up a blocked artery, they know that the problem won’t be fully fixed unless they address the bigger picture. Blockages happen all over your body, so they work to treat underlying issues like high cholesterol, smoking and poor diet. This way, they make sure the problem doesn’t come back in the future. 

Remember, treating PAD isn’t just about fixing one artery—it’s about taking care of your whole body. By working together, you and your provider can make sure you’re not just healed in the short term but also staying healthy in the long run. 

We’re here to help 

Contact us to schedule an appointment today to learn more about your options for peripheral artery disease treatment. As part of our multidisciplinary approach to PAD involving vascular surgery and vascular interventional surgery, Dr. Vikash and Dr. Weiss are available to see patients for PAD.