How P.A.D. Increases Risk for Heart Disease | Dr. John Rundback
Peripheral Arterial Disease is the hardening of the arteries, affecting circulations outside the heart. Patients commonly experience these symptoms in their legs, resulting in pain when walking or pain at night. This pain in their legs or lower extremities may wake them from sleep or even result in ulcers that don’t heal, which can be a problem in and of itself. More importantly, Peripheral Arterial Disease is what we call a coronary equivalent. It is a marker of hardening of the arteries affecting all the arteries in the body, which means that they are at higher risk of heart attacks and strokes, even if they have not had these events previously.
Data suggests that 40% of patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease will have a heart attack or a stroke within the next four to five years. This percentage is even higher for patients who have more advanced forms of Peripheral Arterial Disease, such as Critical Limb Ischemia. Recognizing the risk factors of Peripheral Arterial Disease is important not only in terms of limb loss but also in preventing heart attacks and strokes in your loved ones.
