What kind of disease is peripheral arterial disease?
Peripheral arterial disease is a condition in which blood circulation is impaired due to narrowing or clogging of blood vessels in the limbs and other parts of the body.
Blood vessels include arteries and veins, and this disease causes pain and tissue damage due to poor blood flow in arteries that carry oxygen and nutrients.
There are various sites and causes of symptoms, but the most common is blockage of arteries in the legs (lower extremities) due to arteriosclerosis, which is called arterial occlusive disease of the lower extremities.
Arteriosclerosis is known to be caused by hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and smoking, and can occur in blood vessels throughout the body in addition to blood vessels in the legs.
It is closely related to myocardial infarction caused by arteriosclerosis of the heart and cerebral infarction caused by arteriosclerosis of the brain, and patients with peripheral arterial disease often already have or will develop such diseases in the future.
The disease requires attention to the management of causative lifestyle diseases and systemic complications.
What are the symptoms of peripheral arterial disease?
The typical symptom is intermittent claudication, in which the leg hurts when walking and gets better after a rest.
As the disease progresses, pain occurs more quickly and the distance that can be walked becomes shorter.
As the disease progresses further, it may cause pain even at rest, sores on the skin due to impaired blood flow, and necrosis of bones and muscles.
These symptoms basically develop gradually, but some of them develop and progress rapidly.
Advanced lesions may require amputation of the leg, so it is important to undergo an examination as soon as possible.
What tests are performed when peripheral arterial disease is suspected?
If peripheral arterial disease is suspected, a test called ankle brachial index (ABI) is performed.
This is a test that measures blood pressure in the legs and arms and looks at the ratio of the two. If the blood vessels in the legs are narrowed, the blood pressure in the legs falls and the ABI is low.
If the ABI is low, imaging studies are used to evaluate whether the blood vessels are actually blocked or thinned.
A relatively simple test is an ultrasound examination of the blood vessels. For more extensive and detailed evaluation, contrast-enhanced CT or MRI scans are required.
In addition, an exercise stress test may be performed to assess the severity of the disease.
Exercise stress tests measure the time it takes for pain to occur after actual exercise and the ABI after exercise.
In addition, blood and urine tests are performed to check for diabetes and dyslipidemia, which can cause arteriosclerosis.
What is the treatment for peripheral arterial disease?
The goals of treatment of peripheral arterial disease are to improve symptoms, prevent severe disease, and even prevent related atherosclerotic disease.
The first step in treatment is to treat the disease that causes atherosclerosis, medications, and exercise.
Typical causes of atherosclerosis are hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and smoking, and these are treated (see the description of each disease for details).
Medication therapy involves taking blood thinners to improve blood flow. Exercise consists mainly of walking, while paying attention to symptoms.
If symptoms do not improve sufficiently with these treatments, endovascular treatment using a catheter or surgery may be necessary.
Catheter therapy involves passing a catheter into a narrowed blood vessel to widen it, and surgery involves bypass surgery, in which a blood vessel is grafted to bypass the blocked area.
If these treatments are required, we will refer you to a specialized facility.
What tests and treatments for peripheral arterial disease can be performed at the Ikejiri-Ohashi Sera Clinic?
The clinic specializes in orthopedics, internal medicine, and sports medicine and can provide a variety of tests and treatments.
The following tests and treatments for peripheral arterial disease can be performed at our clinic
Examination: ABI, vascular ultrasonography, blood test, urinalysis
Treatment: treatment of causative disease, exercise instruction, prescription of medications
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We are committed to alleviating your concerns and supporting the improvement of your health.
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