Which assessment findings suggest an arterial vascular system abnormality
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To diagnose peripheral artery disease, a health care provider will examine you. You'll usually be asked questions about your symptoms and medical history. Show
If you have peripheral artery disease, the pulse in the affected area may be weak or missing. TestsTests that may be done to diagnose peripheral artery disease include:
Care at Mayo ClinicOur caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your Peripheral artery disease (PAD)-related health concerns Start Here More Information
TreatmentThe goals of treatment for peripheral artery disease are:
Treatments for peripheral artery disease includes lifestyle changes and sometimes, medication. Lifestyle changes can help improve symptoms, especially early in the course of peripheral artery disease. If you smoke, quitting is the single most important thing you can do to reduce the risk of complications. Walking or doing other exercise on a regular, scheduled basis (supervised exercise training) can improve symptoms dramatically. MedicationsIf peripheral artery disease (PAD) is causing symptoms, your provider may prescribe medicine. Medications for PAD may include:
Surgeries or other procedures Close Graft bypassGraft bypassA graft is used to redirect blood flow around a blocked or narrowed artery. A graft can be a blood vessel from another part of the body or a synthetic substitute. In some cases, angioplasty or surgery may be necessary to treat peripheral artery disease that's causing claudication:
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Clinical trialsExplore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Lifestyle and home remediesMaking healthy lifestyle changes can help you manage peripheral artery disease symptoms and prevent them from getting worse. Try these tips:
ExerciseExercise is an important part of PAD treatment. Regular exercise helps the body use oxygen better and improves symptoms of PAD. Sometimes, the exercise that will help you get better may cause pain. But don't get discouraged. As you continue exercising, you'll be able to walk longer without pain. Your health care provider likely will prescribe supervised exercise therapy to increase the distance you can walk pain-free. Careful foot careIn addition to lifestyle changes, take good care of your feet. People with PAD, especially those who also have diabetes, are at risk of poor healing of sores and injuries on the lower legs and feet. Poor blood flow can delay or prevent proper healing. It also increases the risk of infection. Follow this advice to care for your feet:
Also, try sleeping with the head of the bed raised a few inches. Keeping the legs below the level of the heart usually reduces pain. Preparing for your appointmentYou might first visit your family care provider. You may be referred to a doctor who specializes in disorders of blood vessels (vascular specialist) or a doctor trained in heart diseases (cardiologist). Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot to discuss, it's a good idea to arrive well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your provider. What you can do
For peripheral artery disease, some basic questions to ask your health care provider include:
Don't hesitate to ask additional questions during your appointment if you don't understand something. What to expect from your doctorYour health care provider is likely to ask you many questions. Being ready to answer them may save time to go over any details you want to spend more time on. Your provider may ask:
What you can do in the meantimeIf you smoke, quit. Smoking increases the risk of peripheral artery disease and can make existing PAD worse. If you need help quitting, ask your care provider for strategies that can help. Eating less saturated fat and adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet are two other healthy lifestyle habits you can immediately try. By Mayo Clinic Staff Peripheral artery disease (PAD) care at Mayo Clinic Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Symptoms & causesDoctors & departments June 21, 2022 Share on: FacebookTwitter Show references
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Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, has been recognized as one of the top Cardiology & Heart Surgery hospitals in the nation for 2022-2023 by U.S. News & World Report.Learn more about this top honorPeripheral artery disease (PAD)
AdvertisementMayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. What is arterial vascular assessment?Vascular studies are tests that check the blood flow in your arteries and veins. These tests are noninvasive. This means they don't use any needles. Vascular studies use high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to measure the amount of blood flow in your blood vessels.
What are the signs of arterial insufficiency?Symptoms. If it affects your heart arteries, you may have chest pain (angina pectoris) or a heart attack.. If it affects your brain arteries, you may have a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke.. If it affects the arteries that bring blood to your legs, you may have frequent leg cramping when you walk.. Which of the following assessment findings are associated with peripheral arterial disease?Physical examination findings suggestive of PAD include abnormal pulses, audible bruits, nonhealing lower extremity wounds, lower extremity gangrene, elevation pallor, dependent rubor, delayed capillary refill, and cool extremities ( Table 2 ). Patients with one or more of these findings should undergo ABI testing.
What is the most common presenting symptom of peripheral arterial disease?The classic symptom of PAD is pain in the legs with physical activity, such as walking, that gets better after rest. However, up to 4 in 10 people with PAD have no leg pain. Symptoms of pain, aches, or cramps with walking (claudication) can happen in the buttock, hip, thigh, or calf.
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