Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.)
What is peripheral artery disease?
Peripheral artery disease, or P.A.D., is a condition in which the arteries to the legs become narrow from plaque, which may restrict the flow of blood. Even if you do not experience symptoms from the condition (and many people do not), P.A.D. is cause for concern. It indicates that you are at increased risk for having a heart attack or stroke.
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Could PLAVIX help reduce your risk? Get a customizable list of questions to bring to your doctor.
Did You Know?
If you've had a recent heart attack, recent stroke, or have been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.), PLAVIX is FDA approved to reduce your risk of a future heart attack or stroke.
This is because P.A.D., stroke, and heart attack share a common risk: if you have a buildup of plaque in your leg (peripheral) arteries, you are likely to have plaque buildup in other arteries—such as those leading to the heart or the brain. If a clot forms in an artery supplying blood to the heart, heart-related chest pain or a heart attack can occur. If a clot forms in an artery leading to the brain, a stroke can occur. PLAVIX is recommended daily for patients who have been diagnosed with P.A.D. (poor circulation in the legs that may cause pain during exercise, such as walking, and may be relieved by rest).*
A silent condition with some telling signs
Unfortunately, most people with P.A.D. experience no symptoms at all. In fact, only about one third of P.A.D. patients feel any pain. If you have been diagnosed with P.A.D., by the time you actually feel pain in your legs, your arteries may have narrowed by 60% or more. So it's important to talk to your doctor about P.A.D.
There are, however, some recognized symptoms of P.A.D. These include pain, cramps, a tired feeling, or heaviness in your calves, thighs, or buttocks that occurs when you exercise—even just walking a short distance—that eases after rest.
Symptoms of decreased circulation in the arteries of the leg can also include a reddish-blue color of the leg when sitting, paleness when the leg is elevated, or little or no pulse in the leg or foot. Talk to your doctor if you notice these or any other changes in your condition.
Diagnosing P.A.D.
Your doctor can diagnose P.A.D. with a simple, painless test called the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI). During the test, you simply lie in a resting position while blood pressure measurements are taken from your arms and legs. The ABI can usually be performed in a doctor's office in less than 10 minutes.
Talk to your doctor if you have even ONE of the following risk factors
- You're over 50 and:
- Have high blood pressure
- Have diabetes
- Have high cholesterol
- Smoke or used to smoke
- Have a history of heart attack or stroke
- You're over 70
PLAVIX can help
Talk to your doctor about whether PLAVIX may be right for you. PLAVIX helps keep platelets from sticking together and forming clots, which helps keep your blood flowing. This, in turn, can help protect you from a heart attack or stroke.
Always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with PLAVIX, especially if you’ve had a stroke.
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