cause pain in the
legs while walking (called claudication).
Imagine walking – pain free!
If you felt pain in your chest, you wouldn’t ignore
it—right? But if you felt pain in your legs, you
might put off asking your doctor about it. That
could be a serious mistake, because leg pain isn’t always
due to muscle strain. It could be due to peripheral arterial
PAD occurs when the arteries that carry blood to the arms
or legs become narrowed or clogged with plaque—the same
plaque that causes coronary (heart) artery disease. As the
plaque increases in the arteries, blood flow decreases. This
lack of blood flow for periods of time can
"Most patients describe the discomfort as a tightness,
fatigue or ache in the calf muscles, thighs or buttocks,"
says cardiologist Robert Fishman, MD, Chairman of
the Board of the Vascular Institute at Bridgeport Hospital.
"The pain is typically predictable—it comes on after
walking a certain distance, and it goes away with rest."
"Other symptoms of PAD include leg numbness, tingling
or weakness, cold legs or feet, hair loss on the legs or
discoloration," says vascular surgeon Seth Blattman, MD.
"In severe cases, a person with PAD may develop a sore on
the foot that does not heal or gangrene."
Treatment for PAD starts with making significant lifestyle
changes, such as quitting smoking, lowering cholesterol, lowering
blood pressure and managing diabetes. A walking program
can help improve symptoms, as can certain medications.
If lifestyle changes and medical therapy don’t work, PAD
can be treated using minimally invasive procedures,
such as angioplasty (a procedure in which a tiny balloon is
used to open a blocked artery to improve blood flow),
stenting (insertion of a tiny metal tube used to keep
the artery open), atherectomy (cutting the blockage out)
or with a laser. Traditional open surgical procedures such
as bypass surgery are considered for patients who are not
candidates for the minimally invasive techniques or with
more advanced disease.
"Most importantly, people who have PAD must take
steps to avoid heart attack or stroke, as they may also
have blockages in the arteries to their heart or brain,” says
"The bottom line is, any severe leg pain shouldn’t be
ignored," says Dr. Blattman.
For a referral to an expert vascular surgeon affiliated
with Bridgeport Hospital, please call Bridgeport
Hospital Physician Referral, 24/7, at 1-888-357-2396,
or visit www.bridgeporthospital.com/FindPhysician.|