User:Emilywheeler56/Peripheral artery disease

Article body-
Factors contributing to increased risk of PAD are the same as those for atherosclerosis. These include age, sex, and ethnicity. PAD is two times as common in males as females. In terms of ethnicity, PAD is more common in people of color compared to the white population in a 2:1 ratio. The factors with the greatest risk association are hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and smoking. Presenting three of these factors or more increases the risk of developing PAD ten-fold.

(Here I added some information with a source to back it up)

-

If peripheral artery disease is suspected, the initial study is the ankle–brachial index (ABI). The ABI is a simple, non-invasive test, which measures the ratio of systolic blood pressure in the ankle to the systolic blood pressure in the upper arm. This is based on the idea that if blood pressure readings in the ankle are lower than those in the arm, a blockage in the arteries that provide blood from the heart to the ankle is suspected.

(Here I simply added a source to verify the information stated as a citation was needed)

-

Medication:

According to guidelines, taking aspirin or clopidogrel is recommended to reduce MI, stroke, and other causes of vascular death in people with symptomatic peripheral artery disease. It is recommended that aspirin and clopidogrel be taken alone and not in conjunction with one another. The recommended daily dosage of Aspirin for treating PAD is between 75 and 325mg, while the recommended daily dosage for clopidogrel is 75mg.

(For this section, I added some relevant information that is verified by a reliable source)

About 66% of patients affected by PAD are asymptomatic, meaning they experience no symptoms. The most common presenting symptom is intermittent claudication, which causes pain and severe cramping when walking or exercising. The pain is usually located in the calf muscles of the affected leg and is relieved by rest. This occurs because during exercise the muscles of the leg need more oxygen. Normally, the arteries would be able to increase the amount of blood flow and therefore increase the amount of oxygen going to the exercised leg. However, in PAD, the artery is unable to respond appropriately to the increased demand for oxygen by the muscles, as a result, the leg muscles are overly saturated with lactic acid, resulting in pain of the muscle that only goes away with rest.[citation needed]

Other symptoms may include


 * Pain, aches, and/or cramps in the buttocks, hip, or thigh
 * Muscle atrophy (muscle loss) of the affected limb
 * Hair loss of the affected limb
 * Skin that is smooth, shiny, or cool to the touch in the affected area
 * Decreased or absent pulse in feet
 * Cold and/or numbness in the toes
 * Sores/ulcers on the affected limb that do not heal

Diagnosing or identifying peripheral artery disease requires history of symptoms and a physical exam followed by confirmatory testing. These tests could include CT scans (Computed Tomagraphic Angiography), MRA scans (Magnetic Resonance Angiography), or ultrasounds for imaging.