More than 8 million people in the United States have peripheral artery disease. Peripheral artery disease affects circulation to your extremities and may increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. At Vascular Surgery Associates Medical Group, serving Beverly Hills and the Greater Los Angeles area, the skilled vascular experts specialize in diagnosing and treating peripheral artery disease. Call the office in Beverly Grove, Santa Monica, or Glendale, California, or book an appointment online today.
Peripheral artery disease, also known as peripheral vascular disease, is a narrowing or blockage in your peripheral arteries from plaque buildup. Your peripheral arteries are the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to your organs and extremities.
Plaque buildup along the walls of these blood vessels, a condition known as atherosclerosis, causes peripheral artery disease. This condition affects circulation to your organs and extremities, increasing your risk of other health problems, like a heart attack or stroke.
Though peripheral artery disease may affect any peripheral arteries, it commonly affects those in the legs.
The narrowing in the arteries leading to peripheral artery disease builds up slowly over time, and you may not have any symptoms during the early stages. As blood vessels narrow, however, you may experience symptoms that affect your legs, such as:
The most common symptom of peripheral artery disease is claudication. With claudication, you have crampy leg pain and fatigue when walking or climbing stairs.
These symptoms tend to occur when you walk the same distance each day and go away when you stop.
In the most severe form, peripheral artery disease can lead to amputation of the toes, foot, or leg. The surgeons at Vascular Surgery Associates Medical Group are experts in limb-saving procedures and have prevented countless amputations for their patients.
If you have these symptoms or concerns about peripheral artery disease, schedule a consultation at Vascular Surgery Associates Medical Group.
Vascular Surgery Associates Medical Group takes a patient-centric and individualized approach to care. When you come in with symptoms that indicate you may have peripheral artery disease, your doctor conducts a thorough exam to get the proper diagnosis.
They ask detailed questions about your symptoms and medical and family history, then perform a physical exam and run diagnostic tests to assess circulation. Testing may include an ankle-brachial index and a vascular ultrasound.
Your peripheral artery disease treatment plan depends on the severity of your disease, symptoms, and your medical history. Initially, your doctor at Vascular Surgery Associates Medical Group may recommend conservative care, such as:
However, if you have severe narrowing or blockages in your arteries, the vascular surgeons may recommend a lower extremity vascular angiogram. During this minimally invasive procedure, your surgeon widens the blood vessels to improve blood flow. Vascular Surgery Associates Medical Group offers the latest technologies and therapies for treatment:
Find out more about peripheral artery disease by calling Vascular Surgery Associates Medical Group or booking an appointment online today.
