Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Peripheral Artery Disease
Name
Institutional Affiliate
Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a prevalent circulatory condition characterized by a limited supply of blood to the lower limbs due to the narrowing or blockage of the peripheral arteries. The narrowing or blockage of these arteries limits the supply of blood to the lower limbs or legs, leading to a condition referred to as claudication or leg pain while walking. It can be asymptomatic or symptomatic and makes for a leading cause of limb loss and functional decline among patients suffering from the disease CITATION Kri15 \l 1033 (Krishna, 2015). Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) shows a strong correlation to atherosclerosis or heightened accumulation of fat deposits in a person’s arteries and further doubles as a key predictor of chronic cardiovascular disease. Severe cases of PAD may lead to loss of life or mortality cases.
Clinical Manifestation
Patients or people with peripheral artery disease may either be asymptomatic or symptomatic, with its most common manifestation being claudication or having leg pains while walking. The symptoms of claudication may include cramping in the legs or arms when participating in a given activity involving the same such as walking or even muscle pains in the limbs CITATION Moh17 \l 1033 (Mohler, 2017). Both the muscle pains and cramping of the limbs tend to cease while one takes a rest from the activity that triggers the claudication or what is also referred to as intermittent claudication (IC) CITATION Moh17 \l 1033 (Mohler, 2017). The position of the limb pain reflects the specific location of the narrowed or blocked artery supplying blood to the lower limbs. Claudication has varied effects on a person depending on its severity as indicated by the degree of pain felt, which may range from mild to excruciating pain that leads to functional decline CITATION Kri15 \l 1033 (Krishna, 2015). Critical limb ischemia is another clinical manifestation of peripheral artery disease that is more severe than claudication as it results in gangrene of the foot, also known as ischemic ulceration, and even rest pains CITATION Kri15 \l 1033 (Krishna, 2015). A person with critical limb ischemia is considered to be at a high risk of vascular events that may be either fatal or non-fatal and loss of limb. Among the vascular events that may occur to patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) include stroke and myocardial infarction CITATION Kri15 \l 1033 (Krishna, 2015). Critical limb ischemia often develops after a long time of suffering intermittent claudication and failure to take effective interventional measures to limit its development. Other symptoms of peripheral artery disease include numbness or weakness of the leg, changing the color of legs, reduced hair growth on the feet and legs or hair loss on the same, and even slower growth of nails due to insufficient supply of blood to the limbs. A person with peripheral artery disease may also notice a weaker pulse in their legs or feet, shining of the leg skin, and coldness on the lower part of the leg CITATION Moh17 \l 1033 (Mohler, 2017). In essence, Critical limb ischemia reflects a progressive case of peripheral artery disease, as evidenced by the occurrence of pain when one is in a state of rest. The degree of leg or limb pain may be so severe to the extent of causing sleep disruptions and physical inactivity. It is, therefore, advisable to visit a health care practitioner when one develops numbness or leg pains for assessment and early determination of whether or not it is the manifestation of peripheral artery disease.
Pathophysiology/Characteristics of the Disease
The main cause of peripheral artery disease is the accumulation or building up of fatty deposits on the walls of a person’s artery, which reduces the adequate supply of blood to the lower limbs. The wides...