June is Men’s Health Month. It is a time to shine a light on health issues that men often ignore. And one of the most overlooked, underdiagnosed, and dangerous conditions men face is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).
Millions of men live with leg pain, numbness, cold feet, or slow-healing wounds without ever knowing these symptoms are warning signs of a life-threatening circulation problem. That is why Men’s Health Month matters so much. It gives us a chance to reach men where they are and tell them the truth.
At Southern Vascular and Foot Rescue, we see this pattern every day. Men wait. Men push through the pain. And by the time they walk through our doors, the disease has often advanced too far.
This Men’s Health Month, Southern Vascular and Foot Health is focused on helping men understand their risks and learn about preferred outpatient treatment options for PAD in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky that help them get back on their feet quickly, with minimal disruption to their work, families, and lives.
How PAD Affects Men Differently
PAD does not care if you are tough. It does not care if you have worked hard your whole life. It narrows your arteries, blocks blood flow to your legs and feet, and puts you at risk for amputation.
But men experience PAD differently from women. Here is how.
Men Often Delay Seeking Care
Men are famously bad at going to the doctor. With PAD, that delay is dangerous.
Many men feel leg pain or cramping when walking and assume it is just aging, arthritis, or being out of shape. They rest, the pain goes away, and they forget about it. But that pattern, pain with activity, relief with rest, is the classic sign of PAD.
By the time men finally seek help, the disease is often advanced. Wounds have formed. Infections have started. And the conversation turns more serious.
Higher Rates of Smoking and Cardiovascular Risk
Smoking is a major risk factor for PAD. It constricts your arteries, speeds up plaque formation, and deprives your legs of oxygen. Men are generally more likely to smoke than women, and smoking rates among Mississippi men are higher than the national average. In Mississippi, 20.6% of men currently smoke compared to 14.4% of women.
Men with diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol face an even higher risk. When these conditions combine, the arteries narrow faster, and symptoms appear sooner.
A Warning Sign Many Men Miss
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is often an early vascular warning sign of circulatory issues in men. The same plaque that blocks arteries in your legs also blocks arteries elsewhere. Many men do not realize that ED and PAD are connected.
If you are experiencing ED along with leg pain or foot numbness, your blood vessels are sending you a message. Listen to it and schedule an appointment for a full vascular evaluation.
Greater Risk of Amputation When Diagnosed Late
Here is the hard truth. Men who delay screening are more likely to present with advanced blockages, nonhealing wounds, or critical limb ischemia (CLI). CLI is the most advanced form of PAD and puts patients at higher risk for amputation, heart attack, and reduced life expectancy.
At Southern Vascular and Foot Rescue, we save hundreds of feet and legs from amputation each year. But we cannot save what we do not see. Early intervention is the key.
Why Men Prefer Outpatient Treatment Options for PAD
Men want solutions that work without turning their lives upside down. Hospital stays mean time away from work. General anesthesia means a longer recovery. Long incisions mean more pain.
That is why Southern Vascular takes a different approach. We focus on the preferred outpatient treatment options for PAD that men actually want to choose.
Our interventional radiologists (IR) perform minimally invasive, outpatient procedures that treat PAD at its source. No major surgery. No general anesthesia. No long recovery. No weeks of sitting on the couch and missing work.
Here is what makes PAD outpatient treatment the preferred choice for men:
- No hospital stay – You go home the same day.
- Faster recovery – Most men return to normal activities within days.
- Local anesthesia only – No risks from general anesthesia.
- Tiny puncture, not a large incision – Less pain, less scarring.
- Covered by most insurances – Call us at 662-775-0114 to verify your coverage.
Preferred Outpatient PAD Treatments at Southern Vascular
We offer several advanced, minimally invasive procedures at our locations across Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Each one is designed to restore blood flow and save limbs. When men ask about the preferred outpatient treatment options for PAD, these are the answers we give them.
Foot Rescue
Foot Rescue is our signature, minimally invasive method for restoring blood flow to the foot and leg. It is tailored specifically for patients who have been told they have no options or that amputation is their only choice. We hear this all the time. Patients come to us after another doctor said nothing could be done. And more often than not, we prove them wrong.
What makes Foot Rescue unique is its focus on foot circulation. This is especially important for patients with blockages below the knee and ankle. By treating all blockages, including those in the pedal loop, patients are more likely to experience complete healing and, with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, can maintain their results longer.
The whole procedure takes about two hours, depending on the severity and number of blockages. You are under twilight sedation and remain comfortable throughout. Recovery time is usually minimal.
Angioplasty
Angioplasty uses a tiny balloon. We guide it through a small puncture in your artery, position it inside the blockage, and inflate it. The balloon pushes the plaque against the artery wall, opening the vessel and restoring blood flow.
Atherectomy
Atherectomy uses a specialized catheter to remove plaque directly from the artery wall. Think of it as a tiny roto-rooter for your arteries. We use imaging guidance to precisely target the blockage. Once the plaque is removed, blood flows freely again.
Targeted Pain Interventions
For men and women with chronic pain from PAD or diabetic neuropathy, we offer image-guided procedures that treat pain at its source. These interventions help patients reduce or eliminate their reliance on pain medications.
What to Expect During an Outpatient PAD Procedure
We believe in explaining every option in words you understand. Here is what the process looks like.
Evaluation: Your Southern Vascular and Foot Rescue Nurse Practitioner performs a thorough evaluation. This includes a Toe-Brachial Index (TBI), the gold standard for PAD diagnosis, and a vascular ultrasound to visualize your blockages. It compares the circulatory pulses in your toe with those in other parts of the body to quickly assess any blood flow deficiencies. We will also perform an ultrasound in order to precisely locate the source of any blockages.
Your nurse practitioner will discuss your best treatment options and will start with lifestyle changes and medication when appropriate. If an outpatient procedure is recommended, your NP will explain the process in detail, provide specific preparation instructions, and ensure all your questions are answered.
PAD Procedure Day: You will lie on a comfortable procedure bed in a hospital gown, and the doctor will enter to review the procedure and answer your questions. During the procedure, the interventional radiologist numbs a small area, usually in your groin or leg. Then they guide a tiny needle into your arteries. They will use X-ray technology to guide the microtools to the blockage and provide treatment. You may feel some pressure, but you should not feel pain.
After a PAD procedure: You will rest for a short time under the observation of the Southern Vascular and Foot Rescue medical staff. If all is stable, you can go home with a designated driver after an hour. That’s it. Then you go home. Most feel better within 24 hours and can return to work, driving, and normal activities within days. You will come back to the clinic where you were diagnosed for a follow-up appointment to check your progress within 2 weeks. It is very important to attend that appointment so your Nurse Practitioner can evaluate your post-procedure blood flow, healing, and relief of PAD symptoms.
Men’s Health Month is a Time to Take Action
This June, stop waiting. Stop assuming your leg pain is normal. Stop telling yourself you will get to it later.
- If you have leg pain or cramping when walking that eases with rest, you need a PAD screening.
- If you have numbness, tingling, or coldness in your feet, you need a PAD screening.
- If you have a nonhealing wound or ulcer on your foot, you need a PAD screening today.
And if you are a wife, a daughter, or a friend reading this for a man who will not read it himself, share this article. Take the First Step
What do I do if I am concerned I might have PAD?
PAD is treatable, especially when caught early. At Southern Vascular and Foot Rescue, we listen to our patients and their advocates. We take the time to explain all the options. And we provide customized long-term interventional solutions that improve your quality of life.
Make this Men’s Health Month the month you take control of your vascular health.
Call us today at 662-775-0114 to schedule your vascular screening at any of our Southern Vascular locations:
Your legs, your mobility, and your future will thank you.
FAQs
The Toe-Brachial Index (TBI) is the gold standard for PAD diagnosis, especially for men with diabetes or nonhealing wounds.
Yes, erectile dysfunction (ED) is often an early vascular warning sign in men that the same plaque blocking leg arteries may be affecting blood flow elsewhere.
Most men return to work, driving, and normal activities within just a few days after a minimally invasive PAD treatment.
We accept most insurances, and you can call 662-775-0114 to verify coverage for your specific PAD services.
