PAD (Peripheral artery disease) can result in extreme discomfort, thus making it difficult to handle the simplest chores. Luckily, there are many executive treatment options available to patients if their screening shows that they are suffering from PAD.
The initial step in treating peripheral arterial disease is consulting your physician. The physician will undertake several diagnostic tests that may comprise Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) test, ultrasound imaging, angiography, or even pulse volume recording exam to identify whether you have PAD.
The medic will recommend PAD treatment options if he or she diagnoses you with PAD. Several treatment options seem to combine more than one option including lifestyle changes and medication. It may be possible to lower pain while reducing the risk of additional damage if the disease is fought from two fronts. Here is an overview of the best treatment options for the peripheral arterial disease.
Lifestyle Changes
Simple lifestyle changes can be the ultimate peripheral artery disease treatment method. The following are a couple of changes that you can do to lower the symptoms from PAD.
• Quit Smoking
People who smoke are at a much higher risk of being attacked by PAD and undergo a rapid advancement of the disease.
According to various researches, smoking can significantly damage your blood cells and lower the effectiveness of your heart in pumping blood, and this makes plaque a significant hindrance to the circulation of blood. Quitting smoking can thus assist you to handle the progress of PAD or prevent it wholly.
• Change Your Diet
Foods that are high in saturated fats can lead to the development of plaque in the bloodstream and intensify both the severity and risk of PAD. Consuming heart-healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits can substantially lower the impacts of the disease.
You should thus avoid high-fat foods and increase the amount of fruits and raw vegetables in your diet. By consuming a good diet, you could also be lowering the risk of serious diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes.
• Workouts
Be sure to exercise often. Cardio exercises can assist lower blood pressure and cholesterol and can lower the risk for plaque build-up in blood vessels thus helping you maintain a healthy and desirable weight. Apart from workouts helping you lower chances of developing PAD, they are also the best treatment for pad leg pain.
Taking Prescription Medication
Changing your habits may not be sufficient in some scenarios. If you have a medical condition that results to your PAD, you should discuss it with your physician. A prescription medication intervention may be available, and may even make a huge difference in your treatment. It is advisable to keep in touch with your medic though if the prescription is not working appropriately.
• Statins for High Cholesterol
Statins are medication drugs precisely designed to reduce cholesterol. These prescriptions are regularly prescribed to patients suffering from PAD. High cholesterol intake can lead to a build-up of plaque in blood vessels, leading to poor circulation and this may directly result in PAD in susceptible persons.
If you address this issue instantly, you can enhance heart function enabling blood to circulate properly.
• High Blood Sugar & High Blood Pressure
Prescription blood pressure medications can offer some protection against the worst impacts of PAD. You should also ascertain that your blood sugar levels are under control because diabetes can lead to you having the peripheral arterial disease. Therefore, undertaking steps to regulate blood sugar levels can help you prevent a couple of circulatory ailments.
• Low-Dose Aspirin
Though not a prescription medication, you can use low-dose aspirin to treat PAD. This prescription often prevents the formation of blood clots. This aspect lowers blockages in blood vessels thus enabling increases circulation of blood to legs, feet, fingers, and hand.
The pain-killing effect possessed by aspirin can also offer some relief to those people who often experience modest to extreme foot and leg pain due to PAD.
Lastly, consulting a doctor is the best step to take toward identifying how you should proceed in treating your PAD-related issues. Understanding your treatment options will help you make the best decisions concerning your care.
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