If you have PAD, you’re at greater risk of a heart attack or stroke.

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If you have PAD, you’re at greater risk of a heart attack or stroke.

The importance of PAD treatment.

The dangers of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) extend well beyond difficulties in walking, and the consequences can be far worse than limiting your daily activities or missing out on your favorite sports. If left untreated, patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) can develop serious health problems. The National Institutes of Health estimates that a person with PAD has a six to seven times higher risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke or a transient ischemic attack than the general population.

What is PAD?
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is atherosclerosis that develops in the arteries of the legs or, less commonly, the arms. PAD is caused by the accumulation of fatty plaque in the blood vessel walls. As plaque builds up, the blood vessels get narrower and narrower, until they become blocked. It’s important to note that PAD can build up over a lifetime, and the symptoms may not become obvious until later in life. For many people, the outward symptoms will not appear until the artery has narrowed by 60 percent or more.

The first noticeable symptom of PAD may be intermittent claudication, which is leg discomfort, pain or cramping that develops with activity, is relieved with rest, and recurs upon resuming activity.

Classic Symptoms
The classic symptom of PAD is pain in the legs with physical activity, such as walking, that gets better after rest. Symptoms of pain, aches, or cramps with walking can happen in the buttock, hip, thigh, or calf. However, some patients with PAD, up to 4 in 10 experience no leg pain.

Treatments can vary
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with PAD, treatments can be varied depending on the severity. Treatment of severe leg pain due to peripheral artery disease (PAD) may include a referral to perform an arterial vascular intervention.

It’s important to know the symptoms of PAD. The first noticeable symptom of PAD may be intermittent claudication, which is leg discomfort, pain or cramping that develops with activity, is relieved with rest, and recurs upon resuming activity. The pain is often noticed in the calf, but may also be felt in the buttocks or thighs. Intermittent claudication symptoms may also include numbness, weakness, heaviness or fatigue in the leg muscles when walking that are relieved at rest. The pain can be severe enough to interfere with normal walking.

To treat PAD, MTV IR specialists first perform a diagnostic angiogram to get a closer look at the arteries. This procedure may involve placing a catheter into the artery at the groin or wrist, and then injecting a special dye and analyzing the results via X-ray. Once the problem areas have been identified, MTV IR doctors work with the referring physicians to develop a treatment plan. Treatment often continues with a therapeutic angiogram, which may involve a number of different Interventional Radiology procedures such as angioplasty (expanding the narrowed artery by inflating a tiny balloon) or placing a stent to hold the artery open. Other procedures include drug-coated balloon angioplasty, drug-coated stent placement, or atherectomy (to remove plaque buildup that has become calcified and does not respond well to angioplasty or medication). Most arterial interventions at MTV IR are performed as outpatient procedures with no overnight hospital stays required.

If you or a loved one has symptoms common with PAD, see your primary care physician. If you have been diagnosed with PAD, it’s important to know your treatment options. The interventional radiologists at MTV IR offer a safe, effective, almost painless treatment for PAD.

To see images of the amazing results MTV IR has achieved in treating PAD, follow this link https://mtvir.com/treatments/vascular-interventions/arterial-vascular-interventions/ and scroll to the bottom section of the page.

Free Screenings for Peripheral Artery Disease – PAD

Feel like you may be at risk for Peripheral Artery disease? Knowing your symptoms can greatly reduce your risk. MTV IR teamed up with the amazing people at The Branch Connection to offer FREE screenings on Thursday, August 29th and another screening session on September 9th.

For those not in the know, The Branch Connection in Famer’s Branch is an Active Adult Center and, as the name implies, they specialize in activities for the Senior Adult population. A truly awesome experience for anyone looking to get more active.

Back to the topic. Peripheral Artery Disease. For patients over 50, PAD can be somewhat detrimental if left untreated or unknown. In some worst-case scenarios can even cause amputation. One reason screening for PAD can be so important is because patients suffereing from PAD are at a 6-7 times greater risk for coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart attack.

What exactly is PAD?

When plaque builds up on the inside of the arteries that carries blood from the heart to legs and feet a process called artherosclerosis can happen. This plaque causes the arteries to narrow and harden, which significantly reduces the blood flow.

What are the Symptoms?

  • Heavy Feet
  • Cold Feet
  • Tingling legs
  • Foot Sores
  • Leg Pain

If you suffer from these symptoms and think you need to screen for PAD talk with your doctor or give the leading Dallas professionals at MTV IR a call at 469-458-9800.

The next free PAD screening session at The Branch Connection will be Thursday Sept. 9th.

If you can’t make it that day, that’s okay too. We ALWAYS offer free screening for PAD (peripheral artery disease), UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization), and PAE (prostate artery embolization). To find out more on any of these procedures click on the name above or simply fill out our simple contact form and we’ll get in touch with you right away.

MTV IR Treats PAD From The Wrist.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) affects as many as 18 million Americans and is a circulatory condition in which narrowed and hardened blood vessels reduce blood flow to the limbs and, if left untreated, could lead to limb amputation.

When surgery is needed, PAD can be treated by atherectomy – a minimally invasive procedure to open blocked arteries by using a device on the end of a catheter to remove built up plaque. Then, balloon angioplasty or stent procedures is completed to restore blood flow. The procedure was frequently performed by accessing the artery through the groin, but now the wrist is the preferred access point used by MTV IR.

Treatment of PAD from the wrist, instead of the groin, reduces invasiveness, and often results in a better patient experience and faster recovery time,” said Travis Van Meter, MD – Interventional Radiologist. “This new extended length technology allows us to use the wrist as an access point to help minimize bleeding and avoid commonly diseased arteries. Most importantly, our patients will experience fewer access site bleeding complications, the ability to walk less than an hour post-procedure and shorter hospital stays, on average.” To learn more about MTV IR’s treatment of PAD follow this link Arterial Vascular Interventions

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About MTV IR

MTV IR is a leading interventional radiologist in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. With decades of experience Dr. Travis Van Meter has developed one of the most advanced IR clinics in Texas with leading edge technology. Specializing in Women’s Health, Men’s Health, and Liver Cancer Therapies, you can feel safe with the most trusted and knowledgeable physicians in DFW.

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