Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
An estimated 10 million people in the United States suffer from peripheral arterial disease (PAD), according to the Society of Interventional Radiology.
Peripheral artery disease is a circulatory problem that causes a narrowing of the peripheral arties that serve the legs, stomach, arms, and head. PAD typically affects the arteries in the legs. It is caused by atherosclerosis. It develops when cholesterol and scar tissue build up, forming a substance called plaque, which narrows and clogs the arteries and slows blood flow to the legs.
Your risk for PAD increases with age. If you are a smoker or have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, you have an especially high risk for PAD. If left untreated, PAD may lead to gangrene and amputation. PAD is considered a red flag for several serious diseases, such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Treatments We Offer
At Mount Sinai Interventional Radiology, we treat PAD with the following treatments:
- Medications such as blood thinners
- Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking
- Diet
- Daily exercise
- Minimally invasive angioplasty; if needed, our interventional radiologists can perform minimally invasive angioplasty and/or stenting to open a blocked artery in the leg and restore blood flow.
Why Mount Sinai
With early detection, patients could see a Mount Sinai interventional radiologist when intervention is most effective and less invasive treatments are still an option. Mount Sinai is committed to treating the patient, not just the issue. The doctors and staff at Mount Sinai will do everything we can do to get you back to your normal self as soon as possible.