By Jennifer Jones-McMeans, Ph.D.
HEALTH
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the most prevalent disease you have never heard of, occurring when arteries in the lower limbs get clogged with plaque, preventing blood flow and oxygen from reaching the lower leg and foot. Over 20 million people in the U.S. live with this painful, dangerous disease, and yet, only 10 % of those people have been diagnosed. PAD disproportionately affects the Black and Hispanic communities with nearly 1 in 3 Black adults and 1 in 5 Hispanic adults developing the disease.
With heart attacks, people know the signs. They feel pain in their chest and arm and know what’s happening. We need to educate people about the “foot attack” – the development of
PAD – so they can seek help. Three signs to look for include:
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Persistent leg pain when walking and doing activities as well as resting
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Toenails and/or leg hair stops growing
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One foot feels colder than the other
In addition to watching for these signs, people who may be at risk should encourage their doctor to check blood pressure in their legs at regular checkups, especially if they are a smoker, diabetic or experiencing constant pain in their lower limbs.
Until now, there have been limited treatment options for blocked arteries below the knee. Balloon angioplasty, or using a balloon to clear clogged blood vessels, has been the standard of care for people in the U.S. with PAD. However, the arteries often become
blocked again, bringing the return of intense pain and requiring repeat treatments.
Now a newly FDAapproved treatment offers people new hope. Abbott’s Esprit™ BTK Everolimus Eluting Resorbable Scaffold System (Esprit™ BTK System) is a breakthrough innovation, expanding treatment options for millions of people in the U.S. living with PAD. Made of materials similar to a dissolving suture, Esprit™ BTK System is designed to keep the arteries open and deliver a drug (Everolimus) to support vessel healing prior to completely dissolving.
To learn more about PAD visit PAD-info.com or talk to your doctor.
Jennifer Jones-McMeans, Ph.D. divisional vice president of global clinical affairs at Abbott’s vascular business.