Women and PAD: What You Need to Know

Peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, may be the cause of leg pain. And, according to a recent survey conducted by the P.A.D. Coalition, only 28 percent of American women have ever heard of PAD, a common and dangerous disease that affects about nine million Americans, half of whom are women. That's one in 20 over age 50 and one in five over age 70.

PAD occurs when arteries in the legs become clogged with fatty deposits, reducing blood flow to the legs and causing leg pain when walking. That leg pain you have heard your loved ones complain about cannot be ignored. If left untreated, PAD may lead to disability, amputation (loss of a foot or leg) and a poor quality of life. Having PAD also means that you are at increased risk for having a heart attack or stroke.

To find out how much you know about PAD, take the following quiz developed by the P.A.D. Coalition:

1. Who is more likely to get PAD? (Check all that apply)
People over age 50
People who smoke or used to smoke
People who have diabetes
People who have high blood pressure
People of African American ethnicity
People who have had heart disease, a heart attack or a stroke
People who have a family history of PAD, heart attack or stroke

2. Who can diagnose PAD? (Check all that apply)
A doctor
A nurse
A dentist
A vascular disease specialist
A physician assistant

3. What test is often used to diagnose PAD? (Check all that apply)
A blood pressure check
An ankle-brachial index (ABI) test
A blood test
A urine test

4. Besides leg pain, which of these are symptoms of PAD? (Check all that apply)
Chest pain
Joint pain
Feeling tired all the time
Skin wounds or ulcers on the feet that are slow to heal
Foot or toe pain at rest that often disturbs sleep

5. Which of these is a treatment for PAD? (Check all that apply)
Getting massages for leg pain
Controlling high blood pressure
Getting help to quit smoking
Lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol
Taking aspirin or other antiplatelet medication
Participating in a supervised exercise program

6. What can people do to reduce their risk for PAD? (Check all that apply)
Get help to quit smoking
Control your blood pressure
Lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol
Manage your blood glucose (sugar)
Follow a healthy eating plan
Get regular exercise