Treating Peripheral Artery Disease at USA Vascular Centers

1. Treating Peripheral Artery Disease Peripheral artery disease treatment requires a conscious effort on the part of you, the patient. Your PAD treatment should ideally focus on achievable goals you can make in changing your lifestyle. Many patients are often prescribed medication to help alleviate leg pain and other symptoms. PAD treatment is widely available, with plenty of treatment options. If your symptoms become particularly aggravated, then an angioplasty or even bypass surgery could be necessary. Today, we detail various PAD treatments that can change your life, and, hopefully, help you change your lifestyle. What You Can Do When it comes to PAD treatment, it isn’t just about what your doctor can do for you. There are some important changes you should make to complement the process. For example: 1. If you’re a smoker, stop. Stopping smoking will bring you both instant and long- term benefits. This is especially important when you suffer from peripheral artery disease, as smoking will only aggravate your condition.

2. 2. Exercise is important. If you don’t stay active, your body will suffer for it. It’s easy. Whether you prefer walking, swimming, running, or climbing, it’s up to you. At least 30 minutes a day will work wonders for your health. The increased blood flow will also aid your PAD treatment. 3. A balanced diet will tip the scale in your favor. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables, foods good for the heart, will improve your health and aid your treatment. It can also keep you at a healthy weight, which will only improve your condition. Angioplasty as Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment Unfortunately, peripheral artery disease is a serious condition that, in the worst cases, can lead to amputation. But there’s no need to worry. Provided you put the effort in via exercise and healthy eating, treatments such as angioplasties can help improve your condition. Angioplasty treatment involves inserting a catheter through your affected artery, guiding it to where the artery has narrowed. Once in the right location, a balloon inflates, pressing any fatty buildup against the walls of the artery to improve blood flow. Angioplasty has proven highly effective at restoring normal blood flow and relieving intermittent claudication. It also eases symptoms like leg pain, which, in tandem with healthy eating and exercise, will improve with time. Depending on the size of the blood vessel, angioplasties are successful for the majority of procedures. It is most effective when dealing with larger arteries, arteries with shorter narrowed areas, or with completely narrowed, though still unblocked, arteries. Alternative Treatment There will be some cases in which angioplasty is not the way to move forward. For some patients, bypass surgery is the best treatment. If they deem it appropriate, your doctor will prescribe bypass surgery. The treatment depends on the size, number, and length of blockages and narrowing of the affected arteries to be successful.