It is the progressive, chronic obstruction of the arteries carrying blood flow to the legs and feet.
It is caused by accumulated plaque (atherosclerosis) on the artery walls. Atherosclerosis risk factors are: having more than 65 years old, diabetes, smoking, arterial hypertension and/or hypercholesterolaemia.
Most people present no to mild symptoms. The main symptom is pain or muscle cramps in the legs, especially at calf level. It appears when walking and disappears at rest. Other symptoms: numbness; weakness; feeling of coldness in the leg or foot; wounds that do not heal from lack of bloodflow; change in colour of the leg's skin; hair loss; slow growth of nails; weak pulse in the the extremity, and, erectile dysfunction.
Diagnosis is done using the ankle-brachial index, which is suggestive when the ABI is lower than 0.8. A lower-limb Doppler ultrasound, arteriograph, or CT angiogram are other frequent tests.
The treatment has the aim of improving leg blood flow and avoiding the appearance of ulcers and gangrene. Doing exercise is recommended; take care of one's feet to avoid injuries while keeping them clean and well moisturised with the nails properly cut; wear comfortable shoeware with no seams; avoid compression stockings or pantyhose. Control cardiovascular risk factors. In severe cases, an angioplasty and/or surgery to recover blood flow in the limb may be necessary.
Since atherosclerosis is a generalised disease that affects several regions of the body, these patients have a higher risk of suffering a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction) or stroke.
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