How to Minimize Risk Factors for Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral heart disease (PAD) is a condition that limits the blood supply to your arms and legs. You can reduce the likelihood of a peripheral arterial disease Coconut Creek by ensuring healthy lifestyle choices. Check and adjust your daily habits and routine.
Causes
One of the primary causes of PAD is the limited blood supply to the legs or feet. The major reason that causes the limited supply is narrowed blood vessels due to fatty deposits. The condition is referred to as atherosclerosis. Other minor causes of PAD include:
- Injury or trauma to the arms or legs
- Radiation exposure
- Blood vessel inflammation
- Muscle or ligament changes
Symptoms
Some people do not have symptoms, but if you have PAD, you can exhibit the following:
- Leg numbness or weakness
- Painful aching in legs after activities like walking or climbing stairs
- One leg or foot is colder compared to the other
- Skin color changes on the legs
- Leg sores that won’t heal
- Pain in the arms when doing manual tasks
Treatment options
Your specialist will offer treatment due to the severity of the condition. You might benefit from medications and surgery if your symptoms are more advanced. If your condition is not advanced, your healthcare provider might recommend changes in your lifestyle choices.
Weight loss
You can improve your symptoms by losing extra weight if you are overweight. It is advisable to watch out for your caloric intake. You can create healthy meal plans that will help you lose weight. Eat wholesome foods like whole grains, legumes, lean meat, vegetables, and fruits.
Exercise
Increasing your activity levels will help you minimize the risk factors of PAD. You can also tackle weight loss through exercise. Through this treatment, you can lose weight by expending more energy than you consume. You can include exercises like brisk walking, jogging, and swimming. Talk to your doctor before you start an exercise regimen.
Medications
One of the most common medications you will receive is pain medications essential in dealing with leg pain. You can combine medications with other types of treatment to improve your symptoms. For example, medications can help you exercise when you have leg pain.
Revascularization or surgical options
If conservative treatment options are ineffective, your specialist might recommend surgery (revascularization). Revascularization aims to restore blood flow in narrow or blocked arteries. You can undergo different types of surgery, which include:
- Angioplasty and stent placement
- Vascular bypass surgery
You can also undergo thrombolytic therapy, whereby your specialist might inject a clot-dissolving drug into a blocked artery to help with blood flow.
Preventive healthcare
- Eat a healthy balanced diet
- Avoid foods full of sugar and saturated fats
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid or quit smoking
- Take good care of your feet
You should seek immediate medical attention if you have any symptoms of PAD. Your specialist will offer treatment so that you can avoid complications like stroke, heart attack, or amputation of the affected limb. If you experience symptoms of peripheral arterial disease, visit South Florida Vascular Associates for treatment. The center houses specialists who can help you improve your symptoms and manage your risk factors. Call or book an appointment online today.
