What does PAD stand for?

PAD is an acronym for the condition peripheral arterial disease. It’s an unfortunately common problem that restricts blood flow to your extremities, particularly your lower limbs. Fatty deposits called plaques build up in the arteries leading to your limbs. This stiffens and narrows your blood vessels, limiting circulation in those areas. This usually affects the feet, since they are already far from your heart and have naturally weaker blood flow than other places in your body.

Not everyone experiences symptoms from PAD, especially at first, but as the condition worsens, your feet and legs can develop problems. Muscle cramping when you’re active, numbness, cold feet, skin discoloration, and slow-healing sores are all symptoms of a larger circulation problem. The issue does need to be treated. Eventually it can lead to serious problems with healing in your lower limbs and increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Let Dr. Darren Silvester at Next Step Foot & Ankle Clinic in Pleasanton, TX, help manage your symptoms and improve your feet’s circulation. We also offer in-house testing to see if you have PAD. Use the website or call (210) 375-3318 to reach us.