PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY: A SILENT THREAT YOU CAN NOT IGNORE

Introduction

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a serious and often overlooked condition that disproportionately affects African Americans. Characterized by narrowed arteries and reduced blood flow to the legs, PAD is a major cause of disability, limb loss, and even death if left untreated. The risk of PAD in the African American community is significantly higher than in other racial or ethnic groups, making awareness, early detection, and expert care critical.

This blog will explore why PAD is more prevalent in African Americans, the specific risk factors that increase its impact, and how families can take action to prevent and treat this disease before it leads to devastating consequences.


Why PAD is More Prevalent in the African American Community

Studies show that African Americans are two to four times more likely to develop PAD than non-Hispanic white individuals. This disparity is due to a combination of genetic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors that increase the likelihood of vascular disease.

Key Risk Factors That Affect African Americans

 

  1. Higher Rates of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
    • African Americans develop high blood pressure earlier in life and with greater severity than other groups, leading to accelerated artery damage.
  2. Increased Prevalence of Diabetes
    • Diabetes is a major risk factor for PAD. African Americans are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than non-Hispanic whites, and poorly controlled diabetes can lead to severe PAD and amputations.
  3. Higher Incidence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
    • African Americans are nearly four times more likely to develop kidney failure, which is closely linked to PAD. Poor kidney function leads to worsened arterial health and an increased risk of limb loss.
  4. Smoking and Environmental Factors
    • Smoking drastically increases the risk of PAD, and African Americans who smoke are at an even higher risk for severe, treatment-resistant PAD.
  5. Limited Access to Specialized Vascular Care
    • Many African Americans live in communities where access to vascular specialists is limited, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Lack of awareness and preventive care further increases the likelihood of PAD progressing to critical limb ischemia (CLI) and amputation.

Recognizing the Signs of PAD: Don’t Ignore These Symptoms

The earlier PAD is detected, the better the chances of preventing life-altering complications. Unfortunately, many people mistake PAD symptoms for signs of aging or ignore them altogether. Here’s what to look for:

  • Leg pain, cramping, or fatigue when walking
  • Numbness, tingling, or coldness in the feet
  • Darkened or discolored skin on the legs or toes
  • Sores or wounds on the feet that won’t heal
  • Throbbing leg pain at night, a warning sign of critical limb ischemia (CLI)

If you or a loved one experiences these symptoms, don’t wait—seek medical attention immediately.


Why African American Families Must Take Action

PAD doesn’t just affect individuals—it impacts entire families. The burden of limb loss, disability, and heart disease due to PAD can have devastating emotional, financial, and social consequences.

How Families Can Help

  • Encourage Loved Ones to Get Screened – Early diagnosis is key.
  • Adopt a Heart-Healthy Diet – Traditional diets high in fried foods and processed sugars increase PAD risk.
  • Stay Physically Active – Walking can improve circulation and delay PAD progression.
  • Manage Diabetes and Blood Pressure – Keeping these conditions under control reduces PAD risk.
  • Seek Care from a Trusted Vascular Specialist – Not all doctors have the expertise needed to prevent amputations.

Why Choosing the Right Vascular Surgeon Matters

There is a huge disparity in the quality of vascular care provided to African Americans. Many patients are referred too late or receive subpar treatment at hospitals where financial motives override patient care.

Dr. Polly Kokinos and South Bay Vascular are committed to preventing unnecessary amputations by offering: ✔ Advanced, minimally invasive treatments ✔ Limb-salvage expertise ✔ Comprehensive, relationship-based patient care ✔ Immediate access to cutting-edge vascular technology


Conclusion: The Time to Act is Now

PAD is a serious yet preventable disease. African Americans are at higher risk and must be proactive about screening, lifestyle changes, and expert medical care. If you or a loved one has symptoms of PAD, don’t wait until it’s too late—schedule a consultation with Dr. Polly Kokinos today.

Your health and your future matter. Let’s work together to stop PAD in its tracks. Call our office today to schedule an appointment at 408-376-3626 if you suffer or are diagnosed with any of the conditions outlined in this office. Ask your primary care physician for a direct referral to Dr Kokinos or visit our website at www.southbayvascular.com to learn more about how we can help. 

 

“We Offer Hope When Others Say There Is None”

AMPUTATION PREVENTION CENTER- SAN JOSE

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute is pleased to announce the launching of our new Amputation Prevention and Limb Salvage campaign. Keep an eye out for one of our new ads throughout San Jose and the South Bay.

Dr.’s Kokinos and Pineda are at the forefront of research, development and treatments in the speciality of limb preservation. Our new campaign is designed to help patients facing the threat of lower limb amputation understand that there may still be hope for keeping these limbs. Recent advances in both imaging and medical device technology have entirely changed the field of limb preservation and have enabled vascular surgeons to help patients suffering from these problems in ways that were not available 3 years ago.

As leaders in the field of limb preservation, Dr.’s Kokinos and Pineda specialize in the treatment of lower extremity limb preservation and in the diagnosis and treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) and Chronic Limb Ischemia (CLI). Newly developed minimally invasive surgical techniques are helping patients save limbs by re-establishing blood flow to these impacted areas in ways that were just not possible in the past. Many of these surgeries can now be done in our state of the art angiography suite without the need for patients to be hospitalized and which enable patients to return home the same day of their procedures.

Patients facing a potential lower limb amputation are encouraged to call our office to understand how these new technologies may offer them hope when other say there is none. If you or your loved ones know anyone facing the possibility of an amputation, STOP! Call our office for a consultation on how we can help. We look forward to continuing to serve the south bay community and to help our patients “Get Back Their Life”

Please call us at 408-376-3626 to schedule an appointment and to see how we can help.

We’ve included copies of our new add campaign and hope they help to spread the word on how we can help. Take a look!