Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a prevalent circulatory issue characterized by narrowing arteries supplying blood to the limbs, typically the legs, due to plaque accumulation, which results in limited blood flow to the affected body part, eventually causing pain, cramps, and fatigue with ambulation. While PAD can often be successfully managed with medications or lifestyle changes, if it is not treated, it causes the arteries to deteriorate over time. By learning to identify the relevant signs early, you can help avert conditions like ulcers, infections, or, in some situations, the loss of limbs. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to catch worsening of PAD early and how to tackle it.
- Intractable Pain in the Legs at Rest
In most cases, claudication or typical leg pain associated with PAD will be experienced while ambulating or exercising and stop after resting the affected leg. If your condition is getting worse, it is not uncommon to begin to feel pain in your leg, even at rest, especially at night when lying down. This can happen when blood flow to your legs is limited, even when you are ‘stationary.’
- Non-Healing Wounds or Sores on Legs or Feet
Poor circulation means less oxygen and nutrition gets to the skin and muscles. If Peripheral artery disease progresses, minor cuts, sores, or ulcers on your legs or feet may heal slowly, or not heal at all. These types of injuries may be prone to infection or, if left untreated, may lead to tissue deterioration.
- Changes in Skin Color or Temperature
Worsening Peripheral Arterial Disease may present visible symptoms like pale, bluish, or shiny skin. There may be noticeable differences in the temperature of the affected limb compared to the rest of the body. Additionally, you may notice hair loss on legs, thickening of nails on the toes, or loss of pulse in the ankle. These signs indicate a significant reduction of blood flow to the leg and should be treated as an emergency.
- Numbness, Weakness, or Cramping
If you now experience severe cramping, weakness, or heaviness in your legs while walking small distances, your Peripheral artery disease may be worsening. These symptoms indicate that your muscles are not getting enough oxygen during an activity. Similar to this, if you experience ongoing numbness or tingling. This may also indicate that nerve damage is occurring due to a loss of circulation.
- Erectile Dysfunction in Men
Men experiencing worsening PAD may also develop impotence, especially if they have other PAD symptoms, such as leg pain or reduced circulation. Impotence occurs because decreased blood flow affects not only the legs but the pelvic area as well.
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