In today’s blog, we will discuss everything about Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease, its symptoms, causes, and treatments. It is a condition when oxygen-rich blood cannot reach your body. And, it affects your body and overall health condition because it interferes with the blood flow in your body. Millions of people are affected by Aortoiliac Occlusive disease, especially adults of 40 years and older. Your risk goes up as you age. So, it’s better to take precautionary measures by taking care of your health by following an active lifestyle.
What is Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease
The aorta is the main blood vessel that delivers oxygen-rich blood to our body. The oxygen and nutrients travel from the heart to other organs throughout the body through the aorta. But when the aorta is blocked, it causes Aortoiliac Occlusive disease. So, the blockage of your main blood vessel or the iliac arteries is called aortoiliac occlusive disease. This blockage occurs because the plaque develops in the walls of your blood vessels. Some patients may have no symptoms at all, which can lead to serious complications if left untreated.
Symptoms of Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease
To know whether you have Aortoiliac occlusive disease or not, you will have to look for the common symptoms. It primarily affects the arteries in your leg, causing leg pain and cramps while doing exercises. While some people experience a few things, some people have no symptoms at all. Let’s see the most common symptoms of this disease that you may experience:
- Rest Pain: Your legs pain even while resting, especially when you are sleeping. The leg pain wakes you up since the blood cannot properly reach your leg because they are elevated when you sleep.
- Intermittent Claudication: It is a condition characterized by leg pain. You will feel pain or cramping in your legs and butt while doing exercises, running, and walking. And the pain is relieved when you take a rest.
- Erectile dysfunction: It is difficult to get and maintain an erection during the time of intercourse.
- Ulcers: Ulcers are also one of the common symptoms of Aortoiliac occlusive disease. So, you must look for any open sores on your legs. If you find them, consult a doctor immediately.
These are the most common symptoms of Aortoiliac occlusive disease that you must pay attention to. And, when you experience any of them, consult your healthcare provider. It is important to catch the early signs and symptoms of Aortoiliac occlusive disease to get the right treatment before it’s too late. Your healthcare provider can examine your condition and provide the right treatment. Besides, it is important to check the blood flow in other parts of your body too. Your doctor will check the blood flow problem in your carotid arteries and coronary arteries. When there is a sign of plaque buildup in one part of the body, it signifies there is a chance of plaque buildup in other parts of the body too.
Acute Arterial Occlusion
In severe cases, you may experience the symptoms of Acute Arterial Occlusion, also known as acute limb ischemia, which is a serious medical emergency. You will immediately have to seek medical assistance because in Acute Arterial Occlusion, the part of your body is not getting enough oxygen-rich blood. The symptoms of this severe condition are:
- Pain: You will experience severe pain in your leg, and it is the first symptom you notice.
- Pulse deficit: Your pulse will suddenly drop or weaken
- Paraesthesia: The tingling sensation in your feet, like a pins and needles feeling, is called paraesthesia.
- Paralysis: You are unable to move your affected limb.
- Pallor: Your skin starts looking pale.
- Polar sensation: Known as Poikilothermia, when your body is unable to maintain a stable internal temperature. You feel cold when you touch your body.
If you develop any of these symptoms, you should wait and call for instant help. Delaying the emergency can block your blood flow. The longer you wait, the more it damages your tissues. And, the more severe problems can lead to amputation or even death. Hence, you should never ignore the signs and symptoms of Aortoiliac occlusive disease.
What Causes Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease
- Atherosclerosis is the main cause of Aortoiliac occlusive disease. It is the plaque buildup in your main blood vessel, which affects the flow of oxygen-rich blood in your body. It hardens the arteries, which may be caused by obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and genetic predisposition. This plaque buildup in your iliac arteries or lower aorta.
- Some inflammatory conditions may cause inflammation in your arteries, which can lead to Aortoiliac occlusive disease.
- Radiation to your pelvic area can cause inflammation in your arterial wall, leading to the blockage.
Treatment for Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease
The treatment for Aortoiliac occlusive disease depends on the severity of the condition. The minor symptoms can be treated with lifestyle changes, and medication can slow down their progression. However, the severe conditions may require surgery. To know your condition, consult a healthcare provider near you. Tell them your symptoms and how you are feeling. Based on this, they can let you know what treatment is best for your condition. Considering your condition, your doctor may suggest
- Dietary changes and exercises
- Medications to regulate your blood pressure, lower your risk of blood clots, and treat intermittent claudication.
- Quitting smoking
- Statins to lower your cholesterol level.
When the lifestyle and dietary changes do not seem effective, your doctor opts for the surgeries that include:
- Bypass surgery: This surgery is done to create a new path for the flow of your blood around the blocked or narrowed part.
- Stent placement: Professional endovascular surgeons use the endovascular method to insert your stent and widen the affected part to improve the blood flow.
What procedure will work the best for you can only your doctor suggest. So, consider consulting a professional endovascular surgeon today to know more about the benefits and risks of Aortoiliac occlusive disease treatments or surgeries, and know which procedure is best for you.
