Wounds/sores on your leg/feet that is slow to heal
Dry foot or thickened toe nails
Pain or cramping when you walk, which is relieved by rest
Tingling or Neuropathy in your toes or feet
If you have diabetes or you smoke, you are of extremely high risk.
MINT may be able to help!
Request a Consultation
Understanding Peripheral Artery Disease
In diabetics and chronic smokers, the above mentioned symptoms are most likely caused by Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). PAD is a circulatory condition that results in restricted blood flow to the limbs, especially the legs, and can cause leg or foot sores, painful muscle cramping in the legs, and neuropathy. If left untreated, PAD can have serious consequences such as amputation. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help patients to avoid surgery and amputation. The Amputation Prevention Center at MINT specializes at Amputation prevention techniques without Surgery!
Symptoms
PAD can be hard to diagnose because it does not always yield symptoms and because many people affected with PAD believe the symptoms are caused by other factors. Some common symptoms of PAD include:
Leg pain that wakes you up at night
Muscle cramping in your calves, thighs, or hips while walking, exercising, or climbing stairs
Lingering leg pain, even after the activity has ceased
Foot or toe wounds that do not heal quickly or at all
Decrease in temperature in the lower leg or foot
Slow toenail and hair growth on the feet and legs
Who Is At Risk For PAD?
The process of fatty deposits building up in the arterial walls causing restricted blood flow, is largely determined by genetics and lifestyle. Some common risk factors are:
Smoking Cigarettes
Smokers have four times the risk of PAD
High Blood Pressure
HBP increases the risk of developing PAD
Obesity
Individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or higher have a higher risk of developing PAD
Diabetes
Diabetes increases the risk of developing PAD
High Cholesterol
High cholesterol, or fat, levels in the blood is a direct cause of PAD
Physical Inactivity
Physical activity can help alleviate symptoms
About 20 million people in the U.S have peripheral artery disease
Treatment
The primary treatment objectives for PAD focus on reducing symptoms, enhancing the quality of life, improving mobility, and preventing serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, or amputation. There are three predominant treatments that incorporate these objectives into their execution, including: making lifestyle changes, taking medication, and stent angioplasty. The type of treatment is dependant upon medical history and the disease severity.
Lifestyle Changes
This approach to treatment deals with improving overall health to improve the condition. It encourages good habits such as eating a healthy diet, losing weight, exercising, not smoking, and lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels.
Medication
Certain medications may be prescribed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, regulate diabetes, prevent blood clots, or to relieve leg pain.
Stent Angioplasty
When the arteries have become mostly or entirely blocked, a procedure called stent angioplasty will be performed. This non-surgical procedure inserts a catheter with a small balloon into the affected artery. When inflated, the balloon will increase the space in the artery by pushing the excess cholestervol against the arterial walls.
There is a non-invasive technology that can screen for PAD within 10 minutes during a regular office visit. Call us today to schedule! (314) 696-5535
Our Doctor
Dr. Akinwande
Medical Director
Dr. Goke Akinwande (Dr. A) is an extensively published, board certified leader in minimally invasive procedures. His training at prestigious institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and the Johns Hopkins Hospital, as well as his prior faculty position at Washington University/Barnes Jewish Hospital provided him the best foundation and ability to deliver optimum care to his patients. He has delivered presentations nationally and internationally and trained several medical students, residents and fellows. Dr. A’s core practice is rooted in increasing patient education and awareness, reducing health care disparities and improving access to care.
The Vascular center at MINT is a comprehensive center dedicated to the amputation prevention and the non-surgical treatment of vascular disease.
At MINT we put patient convenience as our highest priority. We truly believe in compassionate and evidence based medicine. We have 3 convenient locations and we will be adding more in the future. Sometimes, we are contacted my patients that live very far away. For those patients, we provide access to telemedicine so that we can perform the entire initial consultation at your place of convenience. Call us today to schedule a visit or telemedicine consultation. You can also request an online consultation.
Everything about MINT was efficient and professional from start to finish. The staff really went out of their way to make me feel at ease and comfortable./p>
—Lilly T.
I loved my experience at MINT in Kirkwood, MO! The doctor is a very nice person, very gentle, caring and highly professional. Overall, 5 STARS!
—Kim R.
My overall experience at MINT in Bridgeton, MO was outstanding. This location is close to home which was perfect (multiple locations as well). The staff was helpful and I had no problems throughout my whole experience. Two thumbs up!
—Rosemary B.
Very professional, friendly, thoughtful and engaging. I would not hesitate in recommending MINT in St. Louis to anyone.
—Margarete P..
The office in St. Louis is always clean, the staff are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The doctor is highly skilled and informative. I wouldn’t go see anyone else!
