PAD Awareness Month | AVA Supports Physicians & Patients

PAD: The Silent Threat to Millions

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is one of the most underdiagnosed—and undertreated—vascular conditions in America. Affecting more than 8.5 million adults, PAD develops when arteries in the legs become narrowed or blocked due to plaque buildup, restricting blood flow to the lower extremities. Left untreated, PAD doesn’t just cause pain—it can lead to serious complications, including tissue damage, infections, and even amputation.

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Recognizing the Signs & Symptoms

The challenge with PAD is that many people don’t realize they have it until the disease has advanced. Common warning signs include:

· Leg pain with walking (claudication): Pain, cramping, or fatigue in the calf, thigh, or hip muscles that improve with rest.

· Slow-healing wounds: Cuts or sores on the legs or feet that don’t heal properly.

· Skin changes: Discoloration, shiny skin, or decreased hair growth on legs.

· Coldness or numbness: One leg or foot may feel noticeably colder than the other.

· Weak pulses in the legs or feet.

These symptoms can be mistaken for “just getting older” or arthritis, but they may signal restricted blood flow and a serious risk for limb loss. Early detection and treatment are critical for saving toes, feet, legs—and lives.

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Why PAD Awareness Month Matters

PAD Awareness Month is more than a campaign—it’s a reminder that vascular health is essential to overall health. People with PAD are at increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death. Raising awareness helps patients understand that what they may think of as “leg pain” could be a warning sign of something much more serious.

This is why vascular screenings and patient education play such an important role. The sooner PAD is identified, the sooner the treatment can begin, often through minimally invasive procedures that restore blood flow and prevent progression to limb-threatening stages.

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Keeping the Focus on Patients

At American Vascular Associates (AVA), our mission is to help centers and physicians keep their attention exactly where it belongs—on patients. By supporting the day-to-day demands of running a practice, from operational excellence to community outreach, we ensure the patient experience remains front and center.

This means physicians have more time to:

· Explain symptoms and risk factors in a way patients can understand.

· Offer timely screenings that can change the course of disease.

· Build trust with their community by being available and present.

Behind the scenes, AVA works with practices to handle the details—from negotiating supply contracts, supporting patient awareness campaigns, to streamlining financial processes—so physicians can spend less time worrying about management, and more time saving limbs.

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Patient Stories That Inspire

Across our network, PAD patients share a common thread: relief when their condition is finally identified and treated. One patient might describe walking pain that disappeared after revascularization; another might celebrate returning to hobbies once thought lost. These stories underscore the importance of PAD awareness and the role that well-supported vascular centers play in delivering life-changing care.

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A Teaser of What’s to Come

PAD is only one part of the bigger story. As we continue this blog series, we’ll explore:

· Operations & Management: How to prevent your practice from running you.

· Community Education & Outreach: Why awareness is often the first step toward healthier patients.

· Marketing & Brand Growth: How patients searching online can find your center first.

· Financial & Strategic Planning: Building your future—or planning your exit—with confidence.

· Collaborative Partnerships: Why you don’t have to go it alone.

Each article will highlight the challenges vascular practices face—and how AVA is working behind the scenes so physicians can focus on care.

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Call-to-Action

This PAD Awareness Month let’s recommit to early detection, patient education, and life-saving treatment. When physicians and centers are supported, patients benefit most.

Stay tuned for our upcoming blogs where we’ll dive deeper into the operational, financial, and community-building strategies that allow vascular practices to put patients first.