Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
What is Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a circulatory condition that limits blood flow to parts of the body. Which happens when your blood vessels become narrow or blocked, often caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries (atherosclerosis). This limits blood flow—usually to your legs, arms, kidneys, or stomach. PAD can cause pain, slow healing, or more serious health problems if left untreated.
Get expert care for PAD
Call 540-662-0306 to speak with a care coordinator at Winchester Cardiology and Vascular Medicine or to schedule your evaluation.
Signs and Symptoms of PAD
PAD symptoms vary depending on there the blockage is. Watch for these signs:
In Your Legs
- Pain or tightness, especially in your calves when walking
- Slowly healing sores on your toes or the bottom of your feet
In Your Arms
- Arm pain when using your arm
- Dizziness when using your arm
In Your Stomach
- Pain in your stomach typically 15 – 30 minutes after eating
In Your Kidneys
- Blood pressure that is hard to control with medication
- Poor kidney function, which is detected with blood work
How We Diagnose PAD
Getting the right diagnosis is the first step to feeling better. We use different tests depending on where PAD is suspected.
Legs or Arms
We use noninvasive tests to check blood flow, including:
- Blood pressure comparisons between your arms and legs
- Ultrasound imaging to see how blood moves through your vessels
- CT or MRI scans to look for blockages
- Angiograms, which use a small tube, and X-rays are taken
Stomach or Kidneys
To check for blockages in your stomach or kidneys, we may use:
- Ultrasound to examine blood flow
- CT or MRI scans for detailed images
- Angiograms to pinpoint the exact location of the blockage
Advanced Treatment Options
If your arteries are severely blocked, we may recommend:
- Stents to keep arteries open
- Drug-coated balloons to reduce re-narrowing
- Atherectomy to remove plaque
- Endarterectomy to clean out the artery
- Bypass surgery to reroute blood flow
These treatments can relieve symptoms quickly. After your procedure, you may need to take blood thinners and return for follow-up testing to make sure your arteries stay clear.
