Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is peripheral artery disease treatment?
Peripheral artery disease treatment is care for arteries in the legs that have become narrowed by fatty deposits, the same process that narrows the arteries of the heart. Reduced blood flow can cause cramping leg pain on walking, slow-healing sores on the feet, and cold or discoloured skin.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, peripheral artery disease is assessed and managed by the cardiology team. Treatment has two aims that matter equally. The first is to improve how far and how comfortably you can walk. The second is to protect your heart and brain, because narrowed leg arteries are a strong sign that the arteries elsewhere in the body are affected too.
Who needs it
Peripheral artery disease treatment is for people who have symptoms of poor circulation in the legs, or whose tests show narrowed leg arteries even without symptoms. The classic symptom is intermittent claudication: an ache, cramp or tiredness in the calf, thigh or buttock that comes on with walking and eases within minutes of standing still.
Other signs that lead people to this service include:
- Leg pain at night that improves when you hang the leg over the side of the bed
- A sore or wound on the foot or toe that is slow to heal
- Cold feet, shiny skin, hair loss on the lower legs or weak pulses in the feet
- Erectile difficulties in men with other circulation risks
Smoking and diabetes are the two strongest risk factors, followed by high blood pressure, high cholesterol and age. In the UAE, where diabetes is common, many people with peripheral artery disease have no leg pain at all, because nerve damage from diabetes can mask the warning. For this reason, people with diabetes are advised to have their foot pulses and circulation checked as part of routine diabetes management.
What happens
Your first appointment covers your symptoms, how far you can walk before pain starts, your smoking history and your other conditions. Your cardiologist examines your legs and feet and feels the pulses at several points.
The main first test is the ankle-brachial index. Blood pressure cuffs are placed on your arms and ankles, and a small handheld Doppler probe listens to the blood flow. Comparing the ankle pressure with the arm pressure shows whether the leg arteries are narrowed and by how much. The test is painless and involves no needles or radiation. If more detail is needed, a Doppler ultrasound scan maps where the narrowing is.
Treatment then follows a clear plan:
- Stopping smoking, the single most important step, with support through the smoking cessation service
- A structured walking programme, in which you walk until the pain is moderate, rest until it settles, then walk again, several times a week
- Medicines that reduce the risk of clots and lower cholesterol, and control of blood pressure and blood sugar
- Daily foot care, especially for people with diabetes
If walking is still severely limited after this plan, or if circulation is threatening the foot, your cardiologist explains the options for opening or bypassing the narrowed artery and arranges referral to a vascular specialist centre that performs these procedures.
Preparing for it
Bring a list of all your medicines and any previous scan reports, blood results or discharge letters. Wear loose trousers or a skirt that can be rolled up to the knee, and socks and shoes that are easy to remove, since your legs and feet will be examined.
Before your appointment, note how far you can walk before the pain starts, for example the number of minutes or the distance to a familiar landmark. This gives your cardiologist a starting point to measure progress against. For the ankle-brachial index, avoid smoking and caffeine on the morning of the test, and rest quietly for a few minutes before it begins.
Afterwards
After assessment, you leave with a plan for walking, medicines and foot care, and a review date to check progress. Walking distance often improves gradually with regular practice, so keeping a simple log of your walks helps you and your cardiologist see the change.
Check your feet every day, including between the toes and the soles, using a mirror if needed. Keep the skin moisturised but dry between the toes, wear well-fitting shoes, and protect your feet from hot surfaces such as sand, pool decks and sun-warmed paving.
Contact the hospital if you notice a new sore, blister, colour change or crack on your foot, if a wound is not healing, or if your walking distance shortens noticeably. Call emergency services or go to the emergency department straight away if your leg or foot suddenly becomes cold, pale, painful or numb, or you cannot move it, as this can mean a sudden blockage of the artery.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE health insurance plans cover cardiology consultations, the ankle-brachial index, Doppler ultrasound scans and long-term medicines for peripheral artery disease. Some scans and medicines need pre-approval. Procedures arranged through referral require separate approval from your insurer. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the risks and limits of peripheral artery disease treatment?
Peripheral artery disease treatment does not remove the deposits already in the arteries, so it aims to improve walking and prevent worsening rather than to restore normal arteries. Medicines that reduce clotting can increase bruising or bleeding, and the walking programme is uncomfortable at first. Procedures to open an artery carry their own risks, which the treating specialist explains before any decision.
Is leg pain when walking always peripheral artery disease?
Leg pain on walking is not always peripheral artery disease, because spinal narrowing, arthritis and muscle or nerve problems can cause similar pain. The pattern helps: circulation pain usually eases within minutes of standing still, while spinal pain often needs sitting or bending forward. The ankle-brachial index test helps tell them apart.
Will I need surgery for peripheral artery disease?
Most people with peripheral artery disease do not need surgery and are treated with walking exercise, stopping smoking and medicines. A procedure is considered when symptoms stay severe despite this care or when circulation threatens the foot. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah arranges referral to a specialist vascular centre when a procedure is needed.
Why does a heart doctor treat leg arteries?
A cardiologist treats peripheral artery disease because the same process that narrows the leg arteries also affects the arteries of the heart and brain. People with peripheral artery disease have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke, so protecting the whole circulation is part of the treatment.
Does walking really help if it hurts?
Regular walking is one of the most effective treatments for leg pain from peripheral artery disease, even though it causes discomfort at first. Walking to moderate pain, resting, then walking again encourages the body to use its blood supply more efficiently, and walking distance usually improves with consistent practice.
I have diabetes. Why are my feet checked so carefully?
People with diabetes have their feet checked closely because diabetes can reduce both the blood supply and the feeling in the feet. A small cut or blister may go unnoticed and heal slowly, so daily self-checks and regular examination help catch problems early, before an infection or ulcer develops.
Is peripheral artery disease treatment covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover consultations, circulation tests and long-term medicines for peripheral artery disease, although some scans and medicines need pre-approval. Referred procedures require separate approval. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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