Whether you are having symptoms of P.A.D.
or have one or more of the risk factors,
it’s very important to get a P.A.D. test as soon as possible because you may be
at risk for a heart attack or
stroke.
The A.B.I. test—fast, easy, and reliable
The P.A.D. test that doctors often use to diagnose poor blood circulation in the
legs is simple and reliable. It’s called the Ankle-Brachial Index (A.B.I.). This
P.A.D. test is a lot like having your blood pressure taken, except that you have
a cuff on both your arm and your ankle. The A.B.I. compares blood pressure readings
from those areas of your body. The whole P.A.D. test takes a few minutes.
The A.B.I. can be an important tool for doctors. It helps them diagnose P.A.D. in
many patients who don’t have any symptoms, but who are at risk for a heart attack
or stroke. In fact, more than half the cases of P.A.D. may be overlooked if based
on symptoms alone. This P.A.D. test has also been recommended as a routine evaluation
for people with diabetes.
Find an A.B.I. testing facility near you
.
There are other tests available to diagnose P.A.D. Your doctor may use scanning
or imaging tests or he or she may give you a physical examination.
What to do next: P.A.D. doubles your risk for heart
attack or stroke-but there’s something you can do...
