The treatment of peripheral arterial disease has two main objectives. The first is to control symptoms such as pain in the legs, so you can resume physical activities. The second is to stop the progression of atherosclerosis through its body to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
You may be able to achieve these goals with lifestyle changes. If you smoke, quitting is the most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of complications.
If lifestyle changes are not enough, you have the need for additional medical treatment. Your doctor may prescribe medication to prevent blood clots, blood pressure and cholesterol, and controlling pain and other symptoms.
Drugs
Cholesterol. You can take a cholesterol-lowering drug called a statin to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. For people who have peripheral arterial disease is to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) "bad" cholesterol below 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg / dl), or 2.6 millimoles per liter (mmol / L). The goal is even lower if you have other major risk factors for heart attack and stroke, especially diabetes or continued smoking.
High blood pressure medications. If you also have high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe medication to lower it. The goal of this therapy is to reduce systolic blood pressure (the top number in two digits) 140 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or diastolic blood pressure lower and you (the bottom number) of 90 mm Hg. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure goal of less than 130/80 mmHg.
Drugs in the blood sugar level. If you also have diabetes, it is even more important than blood sugar (glucose). Talk to your doctor what your blood sugar goals are and what steps to take to achieve these objectives.
Drugs to prevent blood clotting. Because peripheral arterial disease is associated with reduced blood flow to the extremities, it is important to reduce the risk of blood clots. Blood clot can completely block blood vessels already narrowed and cause tissue death. Your doctor may prescribe a daily aspirin therapy or other drugs that help prevent blood clotting, such as clopidogrel (Plavix).
Symptom relief drugs. The drug cilostazol (Pletal) increases blood flow to the legs by preventing blood clots and by widening the blood vessels. It specifically contributes to the symptom of claudication, leg pain, for people who have peripheral arterial disease. Common side effects of this medicine include headache and diarrhea. An alternative to cilostazol is pentoxifylline (Trental), but is generally less effective. But the side effects are rare with this medicine.
Angioplasty and surgery
In some cases, angioplasty or surgery may be needed to deal with peripheral arterial disease, which causes intermittent claudication:
Angioplasty. In this procedure, a small hollow tube (catheter) threaded through a vein in the affected artery. There is a small balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated to reopen the artery and block flat in the artery wall, while at the same time stretching the artery open to increase blood flow . The doctor may also insert a mesh frame called a stent into the artery to help keep it open. The same procedure doctors use to open the arteries of the heart.
Bypass surgery. Your doctor may create a bypass with a vessel from another part of the body or blood vessels in synthetic fabric. This technique allows blood to flow around - or bypass - blocked or narrowed artery.
Thrombolytic therapy. If you have a blood clot prevents the artery, the doctor may inject clot-dissolving drug to the site of arterial clot to break it.
Supervised exercise program
In addition to medications or surgery, your doctor may prescribe supervised exercise program to increase the distance you can walk without pain. Regular exercise improves the symptoms of PAD, a number of methods, how to help your body to use oxygen more efficiently.
You may be able to achieve these goals with lifestyle changes. If you smoke, quitting is the most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of complications.
If lifestyle changes are not enough, you have the need for additional medical treatment. Your doctor may prescribe medication to prevent blood clots, blood pressure and cholesterol, and controlling pain and other symptoms.
Drugs
Cholesterol. You can take a cholesterol-lowering drug called a statin to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. For people who have peripheral arterial disease is to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) "bad" cholesterol below 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg / dl), or 2.6 millimoles per liter (mmol / L). The goal is even lower if you have other major risk factors for heart attack and stroke, especially diabetes or continued smoking.
High blood pressure medications. If you also have high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe medication to lower it. The goal of this therapy is to reduce systolic blood pressure (the top number in two digits) 140 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or diastolic blood pressure lower and you (the bottom number) of 90 mm Hg. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure goal of less than 130/80 mmHg.
Drugs in the blood sugar level. If you also have diabetes, it is even more important than blood sugar (glucose). Talk to your doctor what your blood sugar goals are and what steps to take to achieve these objectives.
Drugs to prevent blood clotting. Because peripheral arterial disease is associated with reduced blood flow to the extremities, it is important to reduce the risk of blood clots. Blood clot can completely block blood vessels already narrowed and cause tissue death. Your doctor may prescribe a daily aspirin therapy or other drugs that help prevent blood clotting, such as clopidogrel (Plavix).
Symptom relief drugs. The drug cilostazol (Pletal) increases blood flow to the legs by preventing blood clots and by widening the blood vessels. It specifically contributes to the symptom of claudication, leg pain, for people who have peripheral arterial disease. Common side effects of this medicine include headache and diarrhea. An alternative to cilostazol is pentoxifylline (Trental), but is generally less effective. But the side effects are rare with this medicine.
Angioplasty and surgery
In some cases, angioplasty or surgery may be needed to deal with peripheral arterial disease, which causes intermittent claudication:
Angioplasty. In this procedure, a small hollow tube (catheter) threaded through a vein in the affected artery. There is a small balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated to reopen the artery and block flat in the artery wall, while at the same time stretching the artery open to increase blood flow . The doctor may also insert a mesh frame called a stent into the artery to help keep it open. The same procedure doctors use to open the arteries of the heart.
Bypass surgery. Your doctor may create a bypass with a vessel from another part of the body or blood vessels in synthetic fabric. This technique allows blood to flow around - or bypass - blocked or narrowed artery.
Thrombolytic therapy. If you have a blood clot prevents the artery, the doctor may inject clot-dissolving drug to the site of arterial clot to break it.
Supervised exercise program
In addition to medications or surgery, your doctor may prescribe supervised exercise program to increase the distance you can walk without pain. Regular exercise improves the symptoms of PAD, a number of methods, how to help your body to use oxygen more efficiently.
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