Diagnosing Peripheral Artery Disease
A provider will perform a physical exam and review your medical history and risk factors. They may order noninvasive tests to help diagnose PAD and determine its severity. If you have a blockage in a blood vessel, these tests can help find it.
- Ankle-brachial index (ABI) [5]
- Pulse volume recording (PVR)
- Vascular ultrasound.
- You may also need an invasive test called an angiogram to find artery blockages.
Treatment for Peripheral Artery Disease
The three major ways to treat PAD are lifestyle changes, medications and procedures.
The two main goals of peripheral artery disease treatments are:
- Reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event.
- Improve one’s quality of life by easing the pain that occurs with walking.