Peripheral Arterial Disease - Key Points
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when a fatty material called plaque builds up on the inside walls of the arteries that carry blood to the limbs.
- PAD is a common, yet serious disease.
- PAD affects 8 to 12 million people in the United States. An estimated 5 percent of U.S. adults over age 50 have PAD. Among adults age 65 and older, 12 to 20 percent may have PAD.
- PAD can impair physical health and diminish a person's ability to walk.
- People with PAD have an increased risk for heart attack.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of PAD are important to prevent disability and save lives.
- PAD screening for individuals at high risk is very important.
- PAD can be treated with lifestyle changes, medicines, and/or surgery and special procedures. Treatment often includes making long-lasting lifestyle changes, including quitting smoking, lowering high blood pressure, lowering high cholesterol levels, and lowering blood glucose levels if you are diabetic.
- PAD treatment may stop the disease from progressing and reduce the risk of heart attack, heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
- Surgery may be necessary to supply more blood flow to the leg if a person has severe symptoms.
The above information is taken from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) website. This publication is not copyrighted.
Click here to see a list of treatment options available at the Temple Heart Center.
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