PAD Screening
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) screening test is recommended for people with suspected PAD or people with PAD risk factors.
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Who gets PAD?
PAD is often caused by atherosclerosis (fatty deposits build up on your artery walls) which reduce blood flow to your limbs. Risk factors of developing PAD include:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Being overweight or obese
- An unhealthy, high-fat diet
- Lack of exercise
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Increasing age, especially over 65
- Over age 50 with a history of cardiovascular disease, such as coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack, stroke etc
- A family history of PAD, heart disease or stroke
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When should I suspect PAD?
- Discomfort, pain or cramping in the feet, legs or buttock while walking or doing activity but relieved with rest. ( most common symptom)
- Unexplained foot or leg pain
- Wounds on the feet and legs that don’t heal, or that heal very slowly
However, Up to 40% of people with PAD will not experience symptoms (National Clinical Guideline centre, 2012), so you may benefit from a PAD screening if you are:
- Over age 65
- Over age 50 and have a history of diabetes or smoking
- Under age 50 and have diabetes and other PAD risk factors, such as obesity or high blood pressure
Like most health conditions, PAD is more treatable when it is detected early. And treating PAD also reduce the risk of developing stroke and heart attack..
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