Peripheral Arterial Disease:

What is it and why should I care?

By HOLLACE D. CHASTAIN, II, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.S.C.A.I. 

What is peripheral arterial disease or PAD? PAD is atherosclerosis or so called “hardening of the arteries,” which can affect almost any part in the body including the kidneys, legs, pelvis, arms, brain and the heart arteries.  Individuals who have PAD also frequently develop atherosclerosis of the arteries supplying the heart, or coronary artery disease (CAD). 

PAD is an under diagnosed condition due to the fact many patients do not experience symptoms of the disease.  If symptoms do occur, they may include rapidly increasing blood pressure for no ap­parent reason, wors­ening kidney function, impotence or leg pain. Most people do not die directly due to PAD but instead die from compli­cations such as cerebro­vascular disease causing stroke, kidney disease, ruptured aneurysm, heart attack, heart failure or sudden death.  

Risk factors for PAD include increasing age, family history, smok­ing, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and inactivity.  For the past two years, Fort Wayne Cardiology has offered PAD screening tests that can detect early stages of PAD before it develops into a serious medical condition.  These tests are done in our accredited vascular laboratory and include ABI’s (the detection of lower extremity vascular disease), abdominal ultrasound and carotid ultrasound.   

PAD screening tests are not covered by Medicare or insurance.  However, we recently lowered the cost of the PAD screening tests to offer a very affordable health promotion service to the public to increase both the detection and treatment of PAD. The cost for all 3 tests is only $49, or $20 each.  PAD screenings are available at Fort Wayne Cardiology without a physician’s referral by calling (260) 481-4820.  Payment is required upfront and screening results are available the day of service. 

Click here for our PDF on our Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening tests.