Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is where plaque builds up in your leg arteries. The condition gradually narrows your arteries. Accumulation of plaque in your arteries is known as atherosclerosis. You have a high chance of developing peripheral artery disease if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, abdominal obesity, or use tobacco products. Leg pain is the first symptom of Plano peripheral artery disease. You can feel discomfort in your hip, thigh, or calf muscle after walking or physical activity. Other symptoms include leg numbness or weakness, and your lower leg or foot may feel cold. There are various treatments for peripheral artery disease, which include:

Medications

Your doctor can prescribe antiplatelet medications like aspirin to minimize the risk of heart attack and stroke. Cilostazol may help improve your walking. This drug is beneficial if you have intermittent claudication exercise longer before developing leg pain.

Supervised exercise programs

Your doctor can recommend you undergo a supervised exercise program to reduce leg pain and improve your walking distance. The program involves your physician supervising you as you walk on a treadmill for at least three sessions a week. Exercise programs are beneficial if your peripheral artery disease is in its early stages.

Minimally invasive and surgical treatments

Minimally invasive and surgical treatments can help treat more advanced peripheral artery disease, especially if you have severe pain or limited mobility. These treatments include:

Balloon angioplasty

Balloon angioplasty involves your specialist passing a miniature balloon through a catheter into the affected artery. The balloon expands inside your artery, pushing against the plaque and opening up space in it.

Stents

Stents are tiny metal support coils that your healthcare provider inserts into the affected arteries through a small opening using catheters. The stents expand against the artery wall, supporting and holding it open.

Peripheral artery bypass surgery

Peripheral artery bypass surgery is where your specialist uses a section of your healthy vein or synthetic replacement to make a bypass for blood flow near the blocked region in your leg artery. Your doctor can reverse the treatment if you have severe peripheral artery disease.

Atherectomy

Atherectomy involves your provider using a catheter with a blade at the end to remove plaque accumulating in the artery.

Lifestyle changes

If your peripheral artery disease is diagnosed early, your doctor can recommend lifestyle changes to prevent it from worsening. These changes include:

Avoid smoking

Quitting smoking and using tobacco products can help prevent your PAD from worsening. It helps prevent severe complications like stroke.

Diet changes

Eating a balanced diet consisting of high fiber, low cholesterol, fat, and sodium can help manage your PAD. Doctors recommend you take at most thirty percent of fat in your total daily calorie and not more than seven percent of saturated fat.

Exercise

Regular home exercise, like walking, can help manage your PAD. Exercise increases the distance you walk before you develop leg pain.

Peripheral artery disease is when plaque builds up in your leg arteries. Your doctor can help treat and manage your condition through medications, exercise, balloon angioplasty, bypass surgery, atherectomy, and lifestyle changes. Schedule an appointment at Prime Heart and Vascular for peripheral artery disease treatment to relieve your leg pain.