If you believe you may be experiencing PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease) you will want to contact your doctor right away to be treated.

Symptoms include Leg pain even while resting, one leg much colder than the other, blueing of the toes or feet, lack of leg hair, nongrowing toenails, or ulcerations of the foot or leg.

What puts you at risk can vary from person to person but there are several factors that need to be looked at:

1. You Smoke: Smoking is one of the very biggest factors that put you at risk for PAD. Smokers are 2-4 x more likely to develop PAD than nonsmokers.

1. You are older than 70: While it’s not uncommon for those over 50 to develop PAD, at age 70 it becomes far more of a likelihood.

1. You are diabetic: Diabetes puts you at a greater risk by nearly 4x. Keeping it in check can greatly help stave it off.

1. You have uncontrolled high blood pressure: Continuing high blood pressure also elevates your risk of developing PAD at some point in your life.

1. Your Kidneys are Failing: If you are on dialysis the statistics in 2017 are that between 15 and 23% of those on dialysis have PAD.

1. Genetics: if you have a family history of PAD the risk is even higher.

1. Lastly – If you are African American: you fall into the group that is twice as likely to have Peripheral Artery Disease so it is vital to be proactive in your health care and talk with your doctor if you notice any signs at all.

Give Tampa Cardiovascular Associates a call today at (813) 975-2800 or visit www.tampacarido.com to learn more about the heart and your health.