- Most cases occur in people over 65 years of age, but they have also been reported in young patients.
- The main problem is that peripheral artery disease is not diagnosed early and patients are often not treated with the appropriate therapies.
- For this reason, the American Heart Association presented a new plan to improve the times for its detection.
Within the field of health there are problems that are often unknown by the majority of the population. Such is the case of the peripheral artery disease although in recent times doctors and care organizations have become more aware of this condition that is part of cardiovascular conditions.
Risk factor’s
In the first instance, it is more frequent among people over 65 years of age and can also occur in younger patients. While its main risk factors are diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and smoking.
The peripheral artery disease it encompasses the lower extremities but is based on atherosclerosis. This causes the narrowing of the arteries, restricts circulation and can lead to plaque detachment and the formation of a blood clot. Most patients with this problem will go on to have vascular disease in more than one defined area, increasing the likelihood that they will face serious complications.
New way of approaching the disease
Unfortunately, it is not usually diagnosed peripheral artery disease on time and often patients are not treated with the most aggressive therapies. Addressing awareness and education for both clinicians and patients is a core area of the new PAD National Action Plan, led by the American Heart Association (AHA). This plan was developed in collaboration with 25 national organizations and leaders.
The Dr. Amy Pollaka cardiologist at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, leads the effort to complete the plan with Dr. Aruna Pradhan of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dr. Naomi Hamburg of Boston Medical Center.
The plan outlines goals for raise awareness among patients and health care providers about the disease. It also focuses on improving detection, treatment, and ultimately outcomes as well. Reduce peripheral artery disease-related amputations through public health initiatives, increase and sustain research, and advance advocacy efforts.
As the arteries that go to the legs accumulate a considerable amount of cholesterol that restricts blood circulation, symptoms of the disease may appear. The first are cramps in the lower legs when walking. They can be mild, severe, or somewhere in between, but they get worse as the disease progresses.
Symptoms that patients develop
Other symptoms may be leg changessuch as feeling cold in one and not the other, shiny skin on the legs, slow growth of toenails and leg hair, non-healing sores on the fingers, feet, or legs, and a weak or weak pulse. absence of it in the legs.
People may think that these Symptoms are just signs of aging, but it is important to mention them to your medical professional. The most common symptom is having less ability to walk. Patients may not feel any pain.
A physical examination may reveal symptoms that the patient ignores or attributes to something else. Dr. Pollak says it’s important to remove stockings to check the legs and feet of patients who fall into this risk description, even if they’re young. Clinicians should ask what types of activities patients do with ease in order to identify problems. In addition, the Blood tests that check for diabetes and measure cholesterol should also be kept up to date.
The problems of Circulation in the legs can be identified with diagnostic tests, such as the ankle-brachial index, which compares the blood pressure in the patient’s ankle with that in the arm before and after exercise. It is not an invasive test and allows to identify the presence of peripheral artery disease and its severity.
The angiographies They use imaging technology to target blockages and can be done using CT or MRI. Cardiac catheterization angiograms allow treatment to be given to unclog the arteries at the same time.
A procedure on the lower extremities, known as revascularizationrestores blood circulation, and when done early enough, prevents the need for amputation, since loss of mobility affects a person’s ability to work and makes it difficult for them to remain active and self-sufficient.
The stakes are high, both for patients and for the health care system that cares for them. About 33% of patients die within the first five years of peripheral artery disease diagnosis and 20% have a heart attack or stroke.