Peripheral arterial disease
What will happen to me?
Everyone is different, and it's difficult to say what will happen to you. Your symptoms may reduce on their own, they may stay the same, or they may gradually get worse.
If you have peripheral arterial disease you're more likely to have a heart attack or a
stroke. Your legs may also get badly damaged.
stroke
You have a stroke when the blood supply to a part of your brain is cut off. This damages your brain and can cause symptoms like weakness or numbness on one side of your body. You may also find it hard to speak if you've had a stroke.
You have a stroke when the blood supply to a part of your brain is cut off. This damages your brain and can cause symptoms like weakness or numbness on one side of your body. You may also find it hard to speak if you've had a stroke.
Here's what we know from the research:
1
2
Source:
Cassar K, Bachoo P.
Peripheral arterial disease.
July 2007. (Based on December 2006 search) Available at http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ceweb/conditions/cvd/0211/0211.jsp (accessed on 28 August 2008).
Cassar K, Bachoo P.
Peripheral arterial disease.
July 2007. (Based on December 2006 search) Available at http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ceweb/conditions/cvd/0211/0211.jsp (accessed on 28 August 2008).
Source:
Leng GC, Lee AJ, Fowkes FG, et al.
Incidence, natural history and cardiovascular events in symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease in the general population.
International Journal of Epidemiology. 1996; 25: 1172-1181.
Leng GC, Lee AJ, Fowkes FG, et al.
Incidence, natural history and cardiovascular events in symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease in the general population.
International Journal of Epidemiology. 1996; 25: 1172-1181.
- About 1 in 7 people who have pain in their calf when they exercise get very bad damage to the arteries to their leg. If this happens, you may need to have your leg amputated.
- Over a period of five years, 1 in 5 people with pain in their calf when they exercise have a heart attack or a stroke.
- People with peripheral arterial disease are two to three times more likely to die than people who don't have this condition.
- About 3 in 10 people with peripheral arterial disease die within five years of having the disease diagnosed. About 7 in 10
die after 15 years. Mostly, people die because of
heart disease
You get heart disease when your heart isn't able to pump blood as well as it should. This can happen for a variety of reasons.heart disease or a stroke.
Sources for the information on this page:
- Cassar K, Bachoo P.Peripheral arterial disease.July 2007. (Based on December 2006 search) Available at http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ceweb/conditions/cvd/0211/0211.jsp (accessed on 28 August 2008).
- Leng GC, Lee AJ, Fowkes FG, et al.Incidence, natural history and cardiovascular events in symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease in the general population.International Journal of Epidemiology. 1996; 25: 1172-1181.
This information was last updated on Sep 02, 2008
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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