Peripheral Arterial Disease :
Peripheral artery disease is a disease pertaining to the arteries of the peripheries, i.e., lower limbs and upper limbs. This occurs when there is a narrowing in the blood vessels of the peripheries due to the building up of fatty deposits. Some of the symptoms a patient might experience with peripheral artery disease include cold extremities, numbness, muscle pain or cramping of the legs, absence of pulse, discoloration, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, pain in the arms while doing some work and ends at rest, etc. Risk factors for developing a peripheral artery disease include uncontrolled blood sugars, uncontrolled hypertension, obesity, smoking, family history of CAD, and dyslipidemia. Diagnosis is made by a thorough physical examination, a Doppler scan, or even a peripheral angiogram, which might be advised if needed. Treatment includes administration of statins, antiplatelets, and antihypertensives, and intervention like angioplasty would be advised. Lifestyle modifications like quitting of smoking, eating a well-balanced diet, good foot care, and maintaining stress levels also would be advised.