Peripheral arterial disease or PAD occurs when plaque made of fat and cholesterol builds up in your arteries throughout the body away from your heart. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, this condition affects between 8 and 12 million Americans. The most common areas where PAD occurs is in the pelvis and legs. Over time, the plaque can build up and cause a narrowing of the arteries causing leg pain while walking.
Symptoms
About half of the people diagnosed with PAD do not present any signs or symptoms. When walking, going up stairs or exercising, you may experience symptoms of pain, numbness, aching, cramping or heaviness in the leg muscles known as intermittent claudication, which occurs because of the increased need for blood in your legs.
Other symptoms commonly seen in PAD are weak or absent pulses in the legs or feet, poorly healing sores and wounds on the lower extremities, a pale or blueish hue to your skin, and a difference in temperature in each of your legs.
Risk Factors
The two strongest risk factors for PAD are smoking and having diabetes. Smoking can cause you to experience symptoms of PAD 10 years earlier than those who don't smoke. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reported that 5 percent of U.S. adults older than 50 and 12 to 20 percent of adults over 65 have PAD. A history of hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease and stroke are also risk factors.
Fruits, Vegetables and Grains for Heart Health
Fruits and vegetables are essential to a heart-healthy diet because they provide fiber, vitamins and minerals while remaining low in calories, fat, cholesterol and sodium.Try to eat five servings or more of fruits and vegetables every day.
Healthy grains include whole grain breads, cereal, rice and pasta. Whole grains include fiber, vitamins, minerals and complex carbohydrates. Additionally, choose low-fat bread, cereal, rice, pasta and crackers. Include starchy vegetables such as peas, corn, potatoes, winter squash and Lima beans. All of these choices are low in fat and cholesterol, which improves heart health.
Healthy Protein and Fat for Heart Health
Eat lean meats such as skinless turkey, chicken, fish, or lean beef to reduce the amount of total and saturated fat in your diet. To decrease the fat on the meat, cut off any visible fat and cook your meat by baking, steaming, and broiling. Avoid frying any meats and limit the use of oil during cooking. Limit egg consumption to four egg yolks a week or consume egg whites and egg substitutes instead. Eat low-fat or non-fat milk, cheese and yogurt when consuming dairy.
Limiting saturated fats also helps lower cholesterol, which can cause plaque buildup. Try to use less than 8 tsp. of fats and oils per day when cooking and making salads. Choose margarine instead of butter and buy margarine in a tub labeled "light" with the first ingredient listed as water or vegetable oil. Stay away from hydrogenated oils because they contain trans fats, which increase bad cholesterol and decrease good cholesterol.
References
- "Nutrition Therapy and Pathophysiology"; Marcia Nelms; 2007.
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: PAD Symptoms
- National Institutes of Health: Heart Disease and Diet
