Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD), a circulatory disorder, affects one in 20 Americans 50 and older. PAD can’t be cured, but a healthy lifestyle and medication can prevent it from getting worse. At Laser Surgical Solutions RGV, PLLC, the vascular surgeons and wound care specialists provide complete care for PAD. After an exam, they make personalized recommendations to improve your circulation and health. Call the office in McAllen or Rio Grande City, Texas, to schedule a PAD consultation, or book your appointment online today.

What is peripheral artery disease?

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when plaques –– a mixture of fats, cholesterol, and waste products –– collect in your leg arteries, narrowing them. 

Your leg arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your limbs. If they become clogged, it deprives your tissues and organs of the nutrients needed to function. This increases the risk of infection and tissue death (gangrene), particularly in your lower extremities (legs and feet).

What are the symptoms of PAD?

Peripheral artery disease symptoms include:

• Cramping in the legs and buttocks (claudication)
• Burning or aching in your feet and toes during rest
• Redness or other skin color changes
• Frequent skin infections
• Skin that’s cool to the touch

As the condition worsens, open sores (arterial ulcers) can form on your feet and toes.

Since PAD doesn’t always exhibit obvious symptoms, regular checkups are essential, especially if you have a health problem like diabetes that increases the risk of poor circulation.

How is peripheral artery disease diagnosed?

Your Laser Surgical Solutions RGV, PLLC, provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including when they started, what they feel like, and if they’re worse when you sit or lie down. Tell your provider if you have diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), or another health problem that affects your circulation.

Next, your provider examines your legs and feet, checking for skin discoloration, hair loss, and open wounds. They also order several diagnostic tests, including blood work and a vascular ultrasound. Blood work checks for high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). A vascular ultrasound assesses the circulation in your legs and feet.

How is peripheral artery disease treated?

The Laser Surgical Solutions RGV, PLLC, team takes an integrative, minimally invasive approach to treating peripheral artery disease. This involves emphasizing two things: reducing your risk of heart disease and easing pain when you walk. They could suggest:

• Quitting smoking
• Eating a balanced, high-fiber, low-cholesterol diet
• Exercising regularly to promote blood flow
• Managing health problems like high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes
• Inspecting your feet daily
• Prescription blood pressure, cholesterol, or diabetes medications
• Prescription anti-platelet medication
• Wound care (if you have arterial ulcers)
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)

Most people with PAD benefit from several treatments. Your provider monitors your symptoms at regular checkups, adjusting your care plan as needed.

Call the nearest Laser Surgical Solutions RGV, PLLC, office to schedule peripheral artery disease treatment, or book your appointment online today.