The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association
launched different guidelines related to peripheral arterial disease in
order to help doctors and all healthcare professionals to treat in a
better way this common condition. According to statistics, more than 12
million people suffer from Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) in the
United States.
PAD is a really serious illness, since it can cause amputation of the
extremities, rupture of an aortic aneurysm, severe hypertension, kidney
failure, but also heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death.
It is a disease in which arteries supply blood to the arteries outside
the heart, to parts such as legs, feet, kidneys, and intestines. This
arterial disease can cause damages to physical health of people, by
diminishing for instance their ability to walk.
According to experts, the new guidelines supply a succinct diagnostic
and treatment guidebook for patients suffering from PAD and for
physicians, doctors' assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses who
are now offering care to treat them.
“A key source of the power of these recommendations is that they are so
broad-based in their origin from every vascular specialty, as they
attempt to reach a broad-based audience of clinicians. Everyone can use
these Guidelines and a large segment of the public can benefit from
them,” said Alan T. Hirsch, chairman of the writing committee.
Some highlights of the guidelines include recommended questions and
observations that can uncover hidden signs of peripheral arterial
disease; recommendations on when an aneurysm should be treated with
surgery or catheter-based therapy, as well as when “watchful waiting”
is the best way; among other things.