Lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects more than 8 million people in the United States and over 202 million people globally. Doctors are seeing an exponential increase in the number of patients with PAD as risk factors become more prevalent, the population ages, and the treatments for chronic diseases become more sophisticated. But there's good news, too: medical advances have improved the treatment of PAD, and you have a real chance of regaining a normal life after a PAD diagnosis. My goal in writing this book is to educate you and your family about the most important aspects of PAD: -its risk factors -its symptoms and diagnosis -its natural progression -other medical conditions you may experience along with PAD -treatment options All these will be presented in everyday, non-medical language that any reader can understand. If you need only a brief overview for now, skip ahead to the Frequently Asked Questions at the end of this book. But I hope you'll take the time later to review the contents in more detail to learn more about your (or your loved one's) disease and the many treatment options that modern medicine has to offer. I want to empower you as a patient to make informed decisions about your own care. I also want to encourage you to get diagnosed earlier. This will mean less pain, faster diabetic wound healing, fewer needless amputations, preservation of independence, and a greater quality of life.
Charisse Ward, MD, MPH is a board-certified cardiologist with fellowship training in advanced heart failure, heart transplant medicine, mechanical circulatory support, peripheral vascular disease and interventional cardiology. In addition to providing comprehensive, compassionate cardiovascular care, my goal is to demystify peripheral vascular disease and educate patients and families so that they can make well-informed decisions about their own care.
