LOWER LIMB PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE (PAD) SCREENING

Patients with early peripheral artery disease (PAD) in their legs may not experience any symptoms at all but in most cases, patients with PAD will eventually develop leg pains upon walking. This symptom of leg pains caused by exertion (intermittent claudication) is characteristically relieved by rest. In addition to their walking limitation, patients with PAD in their legs are also at a three to four fold increased risk of a stroke or heart attack in the long term compared to patients without PAD. The aim of PAD screening is to identify patients with early PAD so that their medical care can be optimized in order to help improve long term outcomes with regards to stroke and heart attack prevention. PAD screening will involve a quick assessment of your cardiovascular risk factors, leg arterial pulses and ankle to arm blood pressure index (ABPI) calculations.