The prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is high in Hong Kong. Let’s learn more about PAD and the vascular treatment HK and endovascular treatment that follow. PAD is the narrowing or blockage of vessels that carry blood from the heart to the legs. PAD is caused mainly by the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, namely atherosclerosis. People with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking habit are at risk for developing PAD. The prevalent symptom of PAD is leg pain. PAD is diagnosed by noninvasive test – ankle brachial index (ABI) and imaging tests such as magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and computed tomographic (CT) angiography.
PAD can be treated with medicines and surgeries. Angioplasty is the endovascular treatment where the narrowed/ blocked section of the artery is widened by inflating a tiny balloon inside the vessel. While artery bypass graft is the vascular treatment HK where blood vessels from another area of the patient’s body are taken to bypass the blockage in the artery. The endovascular treatment is less invasive than a vascular treatment HK but patients get a more long-lasting result with a vascular treatment HK. Exercise more, eat healthier, and stay away from smoking are the ways that help prevent PAD. Join me in preventing PAD!
