Peripheral Arterial Disease

Diabetic Foot and Wound Center

Wound Care Specialists & Podiatrists located in Bakersfield, CA

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) blocks healthy blood flow through your legs and feet. Without treatment, PAD can lead to painful ulcers in your lower limbs. The wound care specialists at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center in Bakersfield, California, use their skill and training to alleviate the potentially dangerous symptoms of PAD. To learn more, call Diabetic Foot and Wound Center to inquire about a same or next-day appointment, or schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment online today.

661-690-7366

Peripheral Arterial Disease Q & A

What is peripheral arterial disease (PAD)?

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Peripheral arterial disease or PAD happens when plaque builds up in the arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood to your limbs, head, and organs. Over time, this plaque can harden and block your healthy blood flow throughout your body, particularly to your lower limbs.

What are the symptoms of peripheral arterial disease?

You may not realize you have PAD in its beginning stages. Over time, however, you may experience:

Arterial ulcers
Temperature changes in one leg
Poor toenail growth
Heaviness in the leg muscles
Numbness
Aching in the legs and feet
Erectile dysfunction
Shiny skin on your legs
Thigh or leg cramps

Once your condition progresses, you can also have ischemic rest pain, meaning you still experience pain when you’re lying down.

What causes PAD?

Fatty deposits of plaque in your arteries lead to PAD, as can inflammation of your blood vessels. Certain risk factors that raise your chances of peripheral arterial disease include:

Diabetes
Obesity
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Smoking
Genetics
High levels of the homocysteine protein

Your chances of peripheral arterial disease increase if you’re over the age of 50.

What are the treatments for peripheral arterial disease?

The team at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center can diagnose peripheral arterial disease with a comprehensive review of your medical history, a physical exam, and a CO 2 angiography. Depending on the severity of your condition, a combination of surgical and non-surgical treatments can help improve your blood circulation if you have PAD.

Lifestyle changes, such as exercise, weight loss, a healthy diet, and quitting smoking, can help prevent and treat peripheral arterial disease. If you have an underlying condition, such as diabetes, it’s crucial that you care for your feet to avoid slow-healing wounds and ulcers.

For more severe cases, a stent — a small tube placed in the arteries to facilitate blood flow — can help open up your veins and arteries to increase the amount of oxygen-rich blood that flows through your lower extremities.

If you have an arterial ulcer, the team can perform debridement procedures to remove dead or damaged tissue from your wound.

Removing plaque and blood clots from your arteries and blood vessels may be necessary to improve blood circulation. The team performs minimally invasive laser atherectomy and thrombectomy procedures to eliminate this buildup.

To learn more about peripheral arterial disease, call Diabetic Foot and Wound Center, or schedule an appointment online now.