Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.) and Your Feet.

What is P.A.D.?

P.A.D. is when your arteries become clogged with plaque and it causes the arteries to narrow and harden.  This can cause poor circulation, because blood flow is reduced.  It most often occurs in the arteries in the legs, but it can affect other arteries that carry blood away from the heart as well.  Your eyes, kidneys, and carotid arteries can be affected.  P.A.D. can be treated by lifestyle changes, medicines, or leg artery angioplasty.

Who is at risk?

It is most common in Americans over the age of 40, but the risk is increased if:

-You have Diabetes

-You smoke or have smoked

-You have had a stroke, heart attack, or heart disease

-You are of African American ethnicity

-You have high blood pressure

-You have abnormal blood cholesterol levels

-You have a family history of heart attacks, strokes, or P.A.D.

What does this have to do with your feet?

A podiatrist is usually the first medical professional to diagnose a patient with P.A.D. because symptoms usually occur first on the toes, feet and ankles.  The most common signs of P.A.D, include foot/toe pain while you sleep, cramps/tiredness in your legs, thighs, or buttocks (claudication), or ulcers that are not healing.

If you are showing any of these symptoms it is best to Request an Appointment with Dr. Brian Gale, DPM, FACFAS.  He will be able to use the SensiLase PAD-IQ System to help detect P.A.D.  This system is a state of the art system that does three separate tests to determine if P.A.D. is present and how severe it is.  Contact us at Dakota Foot & Ankle Clinic today at 701-255-3338.

 

photocredit: sivic via pixabay.com

Contact Us

Dakota Foot & Ankle Clinic

Monday:

8:30 am-4:30 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-4:30 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-4:30 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am-4:30 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-4:30 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed