Did you know that about 6.5 million folks who are 40-years-old and older suffer from Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)?
Treatment for PAD is essential if
the illness is to be slowed down. PAD advances, resulting in a decrease in
mobility. It can increase the risk of a heart attack or of limb amputation. All
of those can lead to a reduction in life quality.
At this point, you might be
wondering what is the best treatment for peripheral artery disease, right?
Well, we've got you covered.
Keep on reading for our full
breakdown of the different medications for PAD available to you. We'll also
explore supportive lifestyle changes that can truly improve your quality of
life.
The
Symptoms of PAD 101
Ever experienced muscle cramping in
the hips, thighs, or calves when walking, climbing stairs, or exercising? It's
the most prevalent sign of lower-extremity peripheral artery disease.
PAD discomfort usually subsides
after a few minutes of rest, although this is not always the case. Working
muscles require a more excellent supply of oxygen-rich blood. Less is
sufficient for muscles in a state of rest.
You might deal with restricted blood
flow due to plaque accumulation during exercise. In this case, muscles will not
get enough blood to satisfy their demands.
During any activity, muscles can
experience cramping (also known as intermittent claudication). It's a signal
that they are not getting enough blood to meet the increasing demand.
A large percentage of those
suffering from PAD are unaware they have the disease or misdiagnose their
symptoms.
Understanding
the Discomfort in Your Legs
Leg discomfort is sometimes
misunderstood as an inevitable part of growing older. You may attribute your
symptoms to rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, or even "old age
stiffness." Consider the cause of your discomfort to get an appropriate
diagnosis. Muscles, not joints, are the source of leg discomfort associated
with PAD.
Some people with diabetes may
mistake the pain of PAD with that of neuropathy, a condition marked by burning
or aching in the legs or feet.
Talk to your doctor if you're
experiencing any form of recurrent discomfort and explain it as precisely as
you can. Ask the doctors at Modern Vascular
about PAD, even if you don't have any symptoms if you have any risk factors.
What
Is the Best Treatment for Peripheral Artery Disease?
For people with peripheral artery
disease (PAD), you'll want to have a complete picture of your treatment
options.
They range from medications, surgery
to lifestyle changes, so let's explore them one at a time.
Medications:
Antiplatelet Therapy
Antiplatelet therapy is the medical
term for this treatment. Instead of allowing blood cells to adhere together and
form a blood clot, this medication prevents them from doing so.
Another adenosine diphosphate (ADP)
receptor antagonist may benefit comparable to aspirin or clopidogrel.
Blood flow to the heart is reduced
as arteries become blocked, and claudication patients are less hospitalized.
you must take this medication in conjunction with Aspirin and Clopidogrel. You
can't use it as a stand-alone treatment.
Lipid-Lowering
Therapy
In addition to energy storage,
lipids are tiny particles that circulate in the blood and perform various other
tasks. Often referred to as "cholesterol." All individuals with
atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease should take a modest dosage of statins.
It is recommended that all patients
with PAD and those at high risk of their blood not reaching the heart or other
vital organs have LDL levels less than 100 and LDL levels less than 70,
respectively.
Diabetes
Management
Doctors can treat diabetic patients
with lower extremity PAD by using glycemic management treatments. This
decreases hemoglobin A1C to less than 7 percent complication. In short, it can improve
cardiovascular outcomes.
Stroke, congestive heart failure,
and cardiovascular mortality risk may all be reduced with medication for
hypertension. Individuals without diabetes should utilize Antihypertensive
treatment.
It helps keep their systolic blood
pressure under 140 mm Hg and their diastolic blood pressure under 90 mm Hg. You
should maintain blood pressure at 130 systolic and 80 diastolic for those with
diabetes who have a chronic renal illness.
An Arterial
Procedure
Patients with lower leg PAD symptoms
should use this procedure. This applies to you if you're dealing with ulcers,
discoloration, or lower extremity pain while walking.
Also, any pain that immediately
subsides at rest counts. And, have high-risk factors including cigarette
smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
Recent years have seen significant
progress in developing these minimally invasive techniques.
Supplementary
Treatments: Lifestyle Changes
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) may
be managed and even halted by making lifestyle changes, such as stopping
smoking. To maintain or enhance PAD, you can do a mixture of the following
strategies.
As a leading cause of artery
narrowing and arterial damage, smoking puts you at greater risk of developing
or worsening PAD. It is the most crucial thing to lower your chance of problems
if you are already smoking.
If you cannot stop smoking on your
own, talk to your doctor about the many choices available to you, including the
use of medicine.
Exercise
and Movement
This is essential. Physicians often
use the ability to walk a certain distance pain-free to gauge the effectiveness
of PAD therapy. Your muscles become more effective at using oxygen when you
engage in regular physical activity.
Your doctor can assist you in
creating an exercise regimen that is safe and effective for you. Your doctor
may recommend claudication exercise therapy.
Well-Balanced
Meal Plans
Low-saturated-fat diets are known to
reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. And, those two are risk factors for
atherosclerosis.
Also, there are some cold drugs that
you should avoid at all costs. You may notice an increase in your PAD symptoms
if you use over-the-counter cold medications. These can include pseudoephedrine
(Advil Cold & Sinus, Aleve D Sinus & Cold).
PAD
and Its Treatments: Explained
No one likes hearing that they have
a heart condition that they'll need to manage indefinitely. However, the whole
process doesn't have to be grim with the different treatment options
available.
What is the best treatment for peripheral
artery disease? We hope that our guide has answered that question as
comprehensively as possible, as treatments can vary from person to
person.
But, if you're looking for more data and explainers, you can head right to our health section for all the additional information you may need.
