What You Need to Know About Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) affects millions of Americans and often goes undetected until it becomes serious. In a recent conversation with Dr.Tripp Morgan, a leading vascular surgeon in Cordele, we uncovered just how vital it is to recognize, diagnose, and treat this potentially life-altering condition early.

What Is Peripheral Artery Disease?

PAD is a form of vascular disease caused by the narrowing or blockage of arteries—typically in the legs—due to plaque buildup. It’s part of a broader group of cardiovascular issues that also includes coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease (stroke).

“It’s all a disease of blood vessels and a disease of aging,” explains Dr. Morgan. PAD can start silently in your 20s and progress over time, often without symptoms until it’s advanced.

Who’s at Risk?

PAD is strongly linked to:

• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Poor diet (think “Bacon Belt” habits, as Dr. Morgan calls it)

Lifestyle and genetics both play a role, especially in areas where high-fat, high-sugar diets are common.

How is PAD Diagnosed?

• Physical exam: Checking pulses in the feet, examining toenails, and noting hair loss on the legs.
• Non-healing wounds: Cuts or ulcers on the feet that take too long to heal could signal poor blood flow.
• Leg pain while walking or sleeping: Known as claudication or rest pain.
• Advanced imaging: Vascular ultrasounds, ankle-brachial index (ABI), and CT arteriograms can reveal blockages and guide treatment.

In many cases, PAD is asymptomatic, so routine vascular screenings—especially for at-risk patients—are critical.

What are Modern Treatments for PAD?

Dr. Morgan emphasizes that prevention is key. For those already diagnosed with PAD, treatment typically begins with:

• Antiplatelet therapy (e.g., aspirin)
• Statins to control cholesterol
• Blood pressure and diabetes management
• Lifestyle changes: quitting smoking, eating more vegetables, staying active, and reducing stress

When intervention is necessary, today’s treatments are often minimally invasive:

• Angioplasty and stenting to open narrowed arteries
• Plaque removal devices
• Bypass surgery for severe cases
• Bioabsorbable stents, a cutting-edge solution for tiny vessels, especially below the knee

“We’re not just trying to open blood vessels—we’re trying to save limbs and lives,” Dr. Morgan says. “Amputation prevention is a real goal in vascular care.”

The Long Game: PAD Is a Chronic Condition

Dr. Morgan stresses that PAD is not something you “fix and forget.” Patients often require long-term monitoring, lifestyle adjustments, and consistent medical therapy to avoid complications like stroke, heart attack, or amputation.

Gain more insight into vascular health, advanced PAD treatments, and what you can do to protect your legs—and your life.

Click here to watch the full podcast with Dr. Morgan: https://crispregional.org/podcast/