What is PAD?

By Dr. John E. Fawcett, PPMA President-Elect

“I see it on TV, I hear about it from friends, but Doctor, just what is PAD?” A good question so often asked by my patients, one to which there is a rather “easy” answer, so bear with me.

PAD is an abbreviation for Peripheral Artery Disease, a component to a broader disease condition known as Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD). To understand PAD you must first consider that our legs and feet are a “peripheral” (or distant) part of our body, given the perspective the heart is the center of the body’s Arterial (Blood) System.
Because our legs and feet are at a distance from our heart, the arteries that supply the oxygen, food, and water to our legs and feet must travel a long way to get to them. The farther away from the heart, the more fractional they become. Think of arteries like little pipes (which they are), as they get smaller, the less blood they can carry all the way out to our littlest toes.

Even though this blood supply system to the legs and feet normally works effectively, a lot of things can adversely affect the system. For instance: high cholesterol, weight, occupation, smoking, heredity, and diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. When this system is compromised, the first sign to occur is cramping in the legs and feet when walking or climbing stairs.

Other indications or symptoms are cold feet, itchiness, dry skin, and small injuries not healing properly. All of these could be warning signs that you have PAD. It’s like a plant not receiving enough water, it will start to break down.

Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) are well adept at diagnosing and treating this problem. Sometimes treatment is very simple and involves an exercise program with medication; other times the problem is severe and could require surgery. Regardless the outcome, finding out can ease your mind. Today, most people with PAD can be treated successfully and maintain their life-style with little intervention.

If you suspect or wonder if you have PAD or are displaying some of the symptoms, call your podiatrist. With a few non-invasive simple tests, a determination is likely on your first office visit. Besides, PAD is easier to treat in the early stages like most other diseases.