Affecting more than 8 million Americans ages 40 and older1, Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) occurs when arteries in the legs become narrowed or blocked by plaque buildup, reducing blood flow to the limbs. It is a common, yet serious disease that can occur in any artery; however, it most commonly affects the blood flow in your legs.
About 1 in 4 people with PAD experience common symptoms, which may include some or all of the following:1
- Pain, fatigue, heaviness, tiredness or cramping in the leg muscles that occurs during activity and is relieved by resting
- Leg numbness or weakness
- Color changes in the skin of the feet, including paleness or blueness
- Coldness in one leg compared to the other (skin cool to the touch)
Peripheral arterial disease can lead to various complications, including non-healing wounds. This is because when blood flow is limited, patients may experience severe pain in the feet or toes, even while resting, and are at a greater risk for developing wounds. In addition, without healthy circulation, the oxygen and nutrients critical to successful healing are unable to reach those wounds.
Wound Care and PAD
If a wound occurs, a wound center can provide the necessary treatment to promote healing. One of the first steps a wound center may take to treat a PAD-related wound is restoring blood flow to the affected area. This, along with a lower extremity assessment and foot evaluation, are key components to the personalized plan of care the wound care providers develop for each patient.
Without proper wound care treatment for wounds as a result of PAD complications, the tissue in the skin may continue to die, or infection may continue to spread; amputation may be the only option to stop spreading tissue damage and infection. This is why, for those with PAD, wound care is essential.
To facilitate wound healing, the clinicians at the KCHS Wound Care Clinic are trained in both traditional and advanced therapies. For more information about PAD and wound healing, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 308.832.6535 or kenda.ekdahl@restorixhealth.com to learn more about our providers or treatment plans.
REFERENCES
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/peripheral-artery-disease