Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness

Helping You Stay Aware & Healthy

TAKE THE PAD SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE

At Oracle Heart & Vascular, we embrace a multi-faceted approach that not only covers caring for your heart, but your vascular wellness as well. Our board certified physicians guide patients through options in prevention, lifestyle changes, minimally invasive therapies and intervention, when necessary. The common goal in care is to restore essential blood flow, which will result in improved quality of life and avoid long-term or fatal risks.

September marks PAD Awareness Month, and we believe if you are informed about the signs and symptoms of this serious condition, our doctors can help you navigate the diagnosis and treatment process with confidence.

What Is PAD?

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a common circulatory condition where narrowed arteries restrict blood flow to the limbs, typically the legs. This reduced blood flow can cause pain, cramping and other symptoms, especially during physical activity. PAD is often a sign of atherosclerosis, where fatty deposits build up in the arteries, leading to more serious health risks if left untreated. Here are some other symptoms to look out for:

  • Leg or foot is cool to the touch
  • Dry or scaling skin on leg or foot
  • Poor toenail growth
  • Loss of hair on the foot
  • Leg or foot looks reddish/blue when sitting

Importance of Early Detection

The American Heart Association estimates about 8.5 million Americans over the age of 40 are affected by PAD. It’s important to recognize that it is more than just a circulatory issue; PAD is a serious condition that can lead to life-threatening complications, if not addressed. It significantly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, as the same blockages affecting the limbs can impact the arteries supplying blood to the heart and brain. In severe cases, it can even lead to limb amputation due to insufficient blood flow. But with the right tools and knowledge in prevention, individuals can significantly reduce their risk.

Identifying The Risk Factors

Understanding the risk factors for Peripheral Artery Disease is crucial for early detection, prevention and treatment. Being aware of these risks can help your patients take proactive steps to protect their health. Be mindful of these risk factors:

  • High blood pressure or high cholesterol
  • Anyone over the age of 50
  • Family history of vascular disease, heart disease, stroke or aneurysm
  • Current or former smoker
  • Inactive lifestyle
  • Diabetes

Key Prevention Tips

At Oracle Heart & Vascular, we recommend the following tips to lower your risk of developing PAD:

  • Commit to 30 minutes of exercise every day or more
  • Quit smoking and avoid tobacco use
  • Establish healthy eating
  • Manage your blood pressure & cholesterol

Diagnosis

Diagnosing PAD at Oracle Heart & Vascular begins with a medical history, a physical examination and, oftentimes, an ankle-brachial Index (ABI), which uses ultrasound-guided measurements that compare blood pressure in your lower legs with blood pressure in your arms. Diagnostic testing provided to patients include:

  • ABI
  • Arterial Ultrasound
  • CT Angiography
  • Angiogram

How Oracle Heart & Vascular Is Here To Help

Our practice is here whether you need treatment for PAD or to determine if a consultation is the next best step. We offer a patient screening questionnaire to help everyone take the first step towards optimal vascular health.

If you already have PAD, we can help:

  • Treatment: Our team will first perform tests that include medical history, a physical examination and an ABI. If the ABI is positive, we will discuss various treatment options.
  • Medications: To help alleviate symptoms our doctors may recommend medication depending on what patients are comfortable with.
  • Minimally Invasive Procedures: If a patient has blocked arteries, surgery such as balloon angioplasty, and/or stenting may be required in order to restore blood flow. This will not cure PAD but it will help with circulation and provide relief.
  • Outpatient Procedures: These treatments are conducted with your patient’s comfort in mind from our concierge-like procedure suite which is located in our Fredericksburg office.

Compassionate, Comprehensive Care At The Oracle Procedural Suite

Our personalized care is threaded throughout every encounter with our patients. We recently extended our services through the esteemed Oracle Procedural Suite, located on the first floor of our Fredericksburg office. With a 99.8% patient satisfaction rating, this unique infrastructure empowers our experts to integrate personalized, streamlined, and easily accessible same-day care. We invite you to discover the difference in this office-based lab (OBL), where a calm environment meets ensured privacy, ease, and optimal options for rest and recovery.

Vascular Care When You Need It

The earlier Oracle Heart & Vascular doctors are able to detect PAD, the better we are able to treat it and improve a patient’s quality of life, help keep their mobility, and reduce their risk of heart attack, stroke, leg amputation and even death. Our specialists provide a comprehensive approach to your heart and vascular care, and will work with you to develop lifestyle changes and consider claudication medications. If you believe you are experiencing symptoms of PAD, complete our PAD patient screening, call us today at (855) 739-9953 or fill out our online form to request your appointment.