Peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease narrows the arteries supplying the legs, and it is both a mobility problem and a warning sign for heart attack and stroke. Diagnosing it early changes both the leg outcome and the cardiovascular one.

What's Involved

• Ankle-brachial index — A simple, non-invasive pressure comparison between arm and ankle.
• Arterial duplex — Ultrasound identifying where and how severely the arteries are narrowed.
• Treatment — Risk factor management, supervised exercise, and angioplasty or stenting where indicated.

When to Come In

• Calf pain when walking — Cramping that comes on with distance and stops with rest.
• Cold or discoloured feet — One foot noticeably cooler or paler than the other.
• A non-healing foot wound — Poor blood supply is the usual reason a foot ulcer will not close.

This content is for general information only and isn't medical advice. Results vary from person to person, so talk with your eye doctor about your own eyes. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.