It’s time for a tête-à-tête.
When we think of cardiovascular disease, we may associate conditions such as an irregular heartbeat or heart failure with the buildup of plaque in the arteries of the heart.
It is also widely recognized that women and men have different heart attack symptoms. However, neglected disease, especially in women, can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Plaque can build up anywhere in the body, including in the legs and ankles, leading to a condition called peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Buildup in the legs, pelvic area, and arms blocks or narrows arteries, restricting blood flow and causing symptoms such as leg pain, changes in skin color or temperature, and ulcers.
PAD is equally common in men and women, but women are less likely to receive a timely diagnosis, leading to serious consequences because women may report more atypical symptoms.
As PAD progresses, there are multiple risks: more serious leg problems – such as slow-healing wounds, gangrene and limb amputation (although rarely) – and major cardiovascular events.
The longer this disease is left untreated, the greater the risk of a major cardiovascular event, with PAD linked to a six times higher risk of heart attack and a two to three times higher risk of stroke.
Women are also less likely to receive recommended treatments, especially black women. One reason women may be left behind in treatment is that they often have different symptoms.
A study on women’s health and aging found that 63% of participants with PAD did not report typical activity-related leg pain and were considered “asymptomatic.”
Research from the American Heart Association shows that women with PAD are less likely to experience leg pain when walking. However, they face significant limitations in terms of mobility, walking speed and endurance.
PAD also tends to develop later in women, not affecting them until their 60s on average, while men start experiencing symptoms a decade earlier.
Older women may be more likely to develop arterial disease due to the decreased amount of estrogen and its protective effects on the arteries. Other conditions common at this stage of life, such as arthritis and osteoporosis, can also mimic PAD symptoms.
Fortunately, a simple ankle test can determine if you have arterial disease so you can receive treatment sooner.
If you feel pain, numbness, or discomfort in your legs or if you don’t move as quickly as before, checking your ankle pulse can help you determine if you are at risk for PAD.
If you are missing a pulse, you can ask your doctor for a simple test called the ankle-brachial index (ABI), which compares blood pressure measured at the ankle to blood pressure measured in the arm.
An ankle measurement lower than the arm indicates a lack of blood flow to the legs and could be a sign of PAD.
Despite different symptoms, risk factors are generally similar for both sexes, often mirroring those for cardiovascular disease in general. These can include smoking, diabetes, old age, high cholesterol, obesity, poor diet and high blood pressure.
Beyond lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and eating a healthier diet, other treatment guidelines for PAD include medications like statins.
Surgical procedures to widen, stent, or bypass narrowed arteries may be necessary in more severe cases.
Gn Health
