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PAD. THE ACRONYM ALONE doesn’t sound danger-ous. But what it stands for—peripheral arterial disease— can raise your risk for heart attack and stroke.

Sometimes known as peripheral vascular disease or just bad circulation, PAD most ofen afects arteries in the legs. But it can occur in arteries that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body too.

WHAT IS PAD? PAD is a hardening and narrowing—or sometimes even blocking—of your arteries.

It’s caused by atherosclerosis—the process in which fatty plaque accumulates in the walls of your arteries. If enough plaque builds up in a section of artery, blood can have a difcult time getting through. Tat means a decreased supply of blood to any area beyond the block-age, such as the calf or foot.

Anyone who smokes or has a history of smoking is at risk for PAD, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

Plaque is also more likely to accumulate in your arter-ies as you age—as many as 20 percent of people 65 and older have PAD, reports the NHLBI.

You may also be at increased risk of PAD if you have diabetes or a personal or family history of: ● Abnormal cholesterol levels. ● High blood pressure. ● Heart dis-ease. ● Stroke.

SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS At least half of those with PAD have no symptoms, according to the NHLBI. Tat makes it even more vital to talk with your doctor if you have any of the risk factors for the disease. But when symptoms do occur, they usually start with something called intermittent claudication. Tat’s the name given to the cramping, pain and fatigue that develop in the legs and buttocks during physical activity.

Sometimes peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can be treated with medication and lifestyle changes. But if an artery in your leg or arm becomes too clogged by fatty plaque, you may need a medical procedure to open things up so your blood can fow freely again. Two common options are: ■■ Angioplasty. In this procedure, a tiny incision or puncture is made over an artery in your groin, wrist

or elbow. A long, thin tube called a catheter is inserted. Using x-rays as guides, the doctor threads the cath-eter through your blood vessels to the area that’s blocked by plaque. At the tip of the catheter is a defated balloon. When the catheter reaches the blockage, the balloon is infated. The force pushes the plaque against the artery’s walls, reopening the vessel and restor-ing blood fow. Sometimes this is followed by the placement of a tiny mesh tube called a stent to help keep the artery open.

■■ Bypass surgery. Your doctor may decide it’s best to bypass a block-age rather than open it. The detour route (called a graft) can be made using one of your veins or a syn-thetic tube.

The surgeon makes an incision in the skin over the blocked artery. One end of the graft is attached be-low the blockage. The other end is attached above it. Blood then fows through this new route, bypassing the blockage.

YOU MAY ONLY think of a pharmacist as the person who flls your prescriptions. But a pharmacist does much more than put pills in a container.

A pharmacist is a health care professional who is trained to help you understand the medicines you are prescribed and why you are taking them. A pharmacist can also help you choose the right over-the-counter (OTC) medications for diferent illnesses and injuries. You should choose your pharmacist as carefully as you choose your doctor. If you use the same pharmacy whenever possible, the pharmacist can get to know you and keep track of your medication history.

SHARE INFORMATION To help ensure safe use of your medications, you should tell your pharmacist:

● ● About all drugs, vitamins, herbal remedies and supplements that you take. ● ● If you have any allergies.

● ● Anything that could afect medicine use, such as trouble swallowing, reading labels or remembering when to take medicines.

● ● If you are thinking of trying a new medicine or supplement.

ASK QUESTIONS It’s also important to ask your phar-macist any questions you may have about prescription or OTC drugs. You might ask:

● ● What is this medication for, and how is it going to help me?

● ● Are there any special directions for using it? ● ● How and when should I use it?

● ● How long should I use it? Can I stop taking it or use less if I feel better?

● ● What should I do if I miss a dose? ● ● Should I expect any side efects?

● ● How should I expect to feel afer taking the medication? ● ● Should I avoid other medicines or any supplements, drinks, foods or activities while taking this medicine?

If the narrowed artery is in the arms, you may experi-ence pain when brushing your teeth or combing your hair. Other signs of PAD can include:

● ● Faint or even absent pulses in the legs or feet. ● ● Sores or wounds on the toes, feet or legs that don’t heal properly.

● ● Erectile dysfunction, especially among men who also have diabetes.

To fnd out if you have PAD, your doctor may test your blood pressure in both your arms and legs. He or she also may order several tests. ADoppler ultrasound, for example, uses sound waves to detect blocked blood vessels. Angiog-raphy involves injecting dye into your artery and then using special x-rays to see where the dye’s fow is interrupted.

TREATMENT PAD may be your frst warning that you have fatty plaque in your blood vessels. And if you have buildup in one artery, you are likely to have it in others— perhaps in an artery that supplies blood to your heart or to your brain, reports the American Heart Association. Tat’s why having PAD raises your risk for heart attack and stroke—and why treatment is so important. Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, switching to a heart-healthy diet and increasing your physical activity. You might also beneft frommedi-cations to control blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as aspirin to help prevent blood clots.

By working closely with your doctor, you can lessen your symptoms of PAD today and avoid more serious cardiovascular problems in the future.