Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a common health condition that affects the elderly. It develops when a buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances begins to cause blockages in the artery walls, making it difficult for blood to flow where it needs to go. The arteries that are most often affected by this narrowing are the arteries leading to the legs and arms, with the legs being the most affected.

Peripheral Artery Disease Symptoms

Symptoms of PAD are usually uncomfortable and inconvenient, but don’t often warrant a lot of excessive worry on your elderly loved one’s part because they are mild. But if your loved one has some of these symptoms, his arteries may be struggling to work properly, and you should consider talking to him about seeing his doctor for a check-up.

• Pain when walking.
• Muscle cramps, especially in the calves.
• Muscle pain when exercising and using his leg muscles or arm muscles that stops once he rests.
• Painful hip cramps when attempting to climb the stairs.
• Painful arm cramps when doing activities such as knitting, writing, or texting.
• One foot or lower leg feels colder than the other.
• Numbness or weakness in an arm or leg.
• Muscle pain that interferes with sleep or relaxing.

Peripheral Artery Disease Risk Factors

Anyone can develop PAD, but some risk factors may increase the likelihood that your loved one will develop this condition.

• A family history of heart disease, stroke, or PAD.
• Being over the age of 65, especially if the person also has atherosclerosis (the buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls).
• Obesity.
• High blood pressure.
• High cholesterol levels.
• Diabetes.
• Is a smoker.

Managing the Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease

For many who have the condition, they can manage the symptoms by making certain lifestyle changes with the help and guidance of their doctor. Your loved one may need to make some changes that could be difficult to stick with if he’s been practicing unhealthy options his entire life. Having a good support system of family, friends, doctors, and home care providers can help him be more successful in making changes that will benefit him and provide a healthier body that will reap many healthy benefits.

Some areas to make changes can include:

• Stop smoking. Smoking creates so many unhealthy side effects in the body that stopping smoking is often one of the best steps someone can take to improve their overall health, including reducing the symptoms of PAD.
• Start eating more healthy foods. This can include having to cut back on foods that are high in sugar and fat. If diet changes are difficult, a home care provider can often help your loved one with shopping and meal planning to keep him making wise food choices.
• Exercise regularly. With guidance from your loved one’s doctor, help him find an exercise plan that will improve his health. A home care provider can help if transportation is needed or even to go on regular walks with your loved one.
• Manage any health conditions he already has. If your loved one has high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, managing those conditions so they don’t do more harm to the body is important to keeping PAD symptoms at bay.

The best way to prevent leg pain due to PAD is to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care in Little Falls, MN, please contact the caring staff at Alternative Senior Care today. 

Providing Home Care in Central Minnesota and Surrounding Communities. Call us today at (320) 352-3350