Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common vascular condition in which blood flow to the legs or arms is reduced because of narrowed arteries. Because the arms or legs – more commonly the legs – do not get enough blood flow, you may feel pain when walking or other symptoms.
While there’s no cure for PAD, lifestyle changes and treatments can help control the symptoms. Giving up smoking, exercising, keeping a healthy wait and reducing alcohol consumption are the first and foremost lifestyle recommendations your doctor will make. Medication can also be used to treat the underlying causes of peripheral arterial disease. For instance, statins can be recommended for high LDL cholesterol levels, or, if your PAD was caused by hypertension, you may be prescribed antihypertensive. Or, if you have atherosclerosis, you may be prescribed blood-thinning medication to reduce the risk of blood clots. As with any medication, all these medical treatments come with side effects, so it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about any potential risks before starting the treatment.
In some cases, the doctor may prescribe surgery or a procedure to help restore the blood flow through the arteries. There are two different types of treatment for leg cramps Missouri clinics offer that you can undergo, angioplasty and bypass, which are usually recommended when your pain is so severe that it affects your everyday activities, or if your body didn’t respond to medical treatment. Angioplasty is the least invasive of the two and thus has the fewest possible complications, and that’s why it is generally preferred to bypass surgery, unless it is not suitable in a specific case.