Understanding PAD
In diabetics and chronic smokers, the above mentioned symptoms are most likely caused by Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). PAD is a circulatory condition that results in restricted blood flow to the limbs, especially the legs, and can cause leg or foot sores, painful muscle cramping in the legs, and neuropathy. If left untreated, PAD can have serious consequences such as amputation. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help patients to avoid surgery and amputation. The Amputation Prevention Center at MINT specializes at Amputation prevention techniques without Surgery!
Symptoms
PAD can be hard to diagnose because it does not always yield symptoms and because many people affected with PAD believe the symptoms are caused by other factors. Some common symptoms of PAD include:
- Leg pain that wakes you up at night
- Muscle cramping in your calves, thighs, or hips while walking, exercising, or climbing stairs
- Lingering leg pain, even after the activity has ceased
- Foot or toe wounds that do not heal quickly or at all
- Decrease in temperature in the lower leg or foot
- Slow toenail and hair growth on the feet and legs
About 20 million people in the U.S. have peripheral artery disease
Treatment
The primary treatment objectives for PAD focus on reducing symptoms, enhancing the quality of life, improving mobility, and preventing serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, or amputation. There are three predominant treatments that incorporate these objectives into their execution, including making lifestyle changes, taking medication, and stent angioplasty. The type of treatment is dependent upon medical history and the disease severity.
Lifestyle Changes:
This approach to treatment deals with improving overall health to improve the condition. It encourages good habits such as eating a healthy diet, losing weight, exercising, not smoking, and lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels.
Medication:
Certain medications may be prescribed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, regulate diabetes, prevent blood clots, or to relieve leg pain.
Stent Angioplasty:
When the arteries have become mostly or entirely blocked, a procedure called stent angioplasty will be performed. This non-surgical procedure inserts a catheter with a small balloon into the affected artery. When inflated, the balloon will increase the space in the artery by pushing the excess cholesterol against the arterial walls.
There is a non-invasive technology that can screen for PAD within 10 minutes during a regular office visit. Call us today to schedule!
(314) 696-5535
Our Doctor
Dr. Akinwande
Medical Director
Dr. Goke Akinwande (Dr. A) is an extensively published, board-certified leader in minimally invasive procedures. His training at prestigious institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and the Johns Hopkins Hospital, as well as his prior faculty position at Washington University/Barnes Jewish Hospital, provided him with the best foundation and ability to deliver optimum care to his patients. He has delivered presentations nationally and internationally and trained several medical students, residents and fellows. Dr. A believes in compassionate evidence-based medicine and is proud to provide this service to the community. Dr. A’s core practice is rooted in increasing patient education and awareness, reducing healthcare disparities and improving access to care.
About MINT
The Vascular Center at MINT is a comprehensive center dedicated to amputation prevention and the non-surgical treatment of vascular disease.
At MINT we put patient convenience as our highest priority. We truly believe in compassionate and evidence-based medicine. We have offices based in St Louis, MO and Swansea, IL and will be adding more in the future. Sometimes, we are contacted by patients who live very far away. For those patients, we provide access to telemedicine so that we can perform the entire initial consultation at your place of convenience. Call us today to schedule a visit or telemedicine consultation. You can also request an online consultation.
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