The right plan makes the difference when treating this limb-threatening condition.
At Lam Vascular & Associates, we love helping people get out of pain and get back to living. Successful outcomes are why we do what we do every day!
Over the years, we have found that many patients who are diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (PAD) don’t know a lot about the condition; many people have never even heard of it! For this reason, we are committed to doing an excellent job of educating our patients and the medical community at large about the condition. From symptoms and risk factors to diagnosis and treatment, we want to share everything you need to know about living with PAD.
What You Need to Know About PAD
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a very common medical condition in which a build-up of plaque due to atherosclerosis makes it difficult for blood to circulate through the arteries. Risk factors include aging, diabetes and smoking. Symptoms often include leg pain, particularly when walking.
Lifestyle modifications like quitting smoking, exercising more and eating a healthy diet are often successful treatments when it comes to PAD. When these changes aren’t enough, Dr. Lam and his team of vascular specialists at Lam Vascular & Associates can help.
Early-Stage PAD Treated with Guideline-Directed Management and Therapy
Patients who have been diagnosed with PAD but don’t exhibit the classic symptoms will receive a comprehensive program of guideline-directed management and therapy (GDMT), which includes a structured exercise and lifestyle modification program. The goal is to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, such as stroke or heart attack, and to improve blood flow.
Suggested lifestyle modifications include lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, losing weight and stopping smoking. Medications are customized to each patient’s individual risk factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or hyperlipidemia (abnormally high concentration of fats or lipids in the blood).
For patients with PAD that has progressed and/or is exhibiting severe symptoms, one of our vascular experts may recommend procedures such as laser atherectomy or angioplasty and stenting to restore blood circulation in your legs and give you back your ability to walk. In the most advanced cases, peripheral bypass surgery may be recommended.
The Right Diagnosis and Treatment Make All the Difference
One of our favorite success stories is about a patient named Reginald, who traveled all the way from Texarkana, Arkansas, to be treated at Lam Vascular & Associates. Proper diagnosis and treatment of his PAD gave him his life back! Check out Reginald’s story here.
Have You Heard About Our Limb Salvage Center?
To save as many limbs as possible, Dr. Lam opened the doors to The Limb Salvage Center at Lam Vascular & Associates, giving our patients one convenient place to go for complete vascular care.
Many vascular centers specialize in a specific subset of procedures. At The Limb Salvage Center at Lam Vascular & Associates, the goal is to provide a range of treatment options and partner together with our patients to decide which treatment or therapy is ideal for each specific situation.
What You Can Expect from The Limb Salvage Center:
- Comprehensive diagnostic and treatment modalities
- The latest technology for endovascular treatments
- Fully equipped angio suite located onsite to perform several limb-saving procedures
- A comfortable, outpatient experience in many cases
- Reduced wait times and no hospital stay in many cases
- To return home sooner, shorter recovery in many cases
- Full access to Texas Health Resources facilities
Are you living with leg pain? You don’t have to just live with it. Reach out today! Your next step matters.
