Lifestyle Changes and Treatments that Improve PAD Symptoms

Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is a slow moving cardiovascular condition that can creep up on you and do damage before you have any idea you even need help. Fortunately, there are screening options for PAD, and once you know your risk factors, you can get screened as soon as possible. If you do have PAD, there are things you can do and treatments to help reduce symptoms.

At Apex Endovascular, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, Dr. Shawn Ahmed screens patients for peripheral artery disease, and creates customized treatment plans. Here are some of the lifestyle changes and treatments we can use to improve PAD symptoms.

PAD 101

Peripheral artery disease, known simply as PAD, is a build-up of plaque on the interior walls of your arteries. This puts added strain on your cardiovascular system as they carry blood to your extremities. The plaque narrows the pathway through the center of the arteries, slowing down the flow of blood and increasing blood pressure.  

Having PAD significantly increases your risk of stroke or heart attack, as well as the chances that you’ll undergo a lower limb amputation. If you have both diabetes and PAD, your chances of amputation are more than 50 times as likely as someone without either condition.

Risk factors for PAD

There are many different risk factors that make it more likely you’ll develop PAD as you age. Having multiple risk factors for PAD increases your overall chances of having PAD exponentially. Risk factors include:

• Being over the age of 65
• Having a first-degree relative with PAD over the age of 65
• Existing high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Existing high cholesterol
• Being obese
• Having Black ancestry

Some of these factors are beyond your control, like age and genetics. Others you can combat with lifestyle changes.

Symptoms of PAD

In most cases, signs of PAD don’t show up until there’s already significant arterial narrowing. However, there are some symptoms of PAD that you may notice as your condition progresses.  

• Coldness or numbness in your hands or feet
• Cramping in your legs that comes and goes but gets slowly worse over time
• Slow-healing wounds on your lower legs, ankles, or feet 
• Patches of shiny skin on your calves and ankles
• Hair loss and slow regrowth on your lower legs  

Any of these symptoms are a sign you should be screened for PAD, especially if you have one or more risk factors for the disease. 

Lifestyle changes and treatments to improve PAD symptoms

If PAD is caught early, there are things you can do to slow its advancement and improve your vascular health. 

• If you smoke, stop immediately  
• If you’re obese, lose weight slowly and safely
• If you have diabetes, take steps to control your blood sugar
• If you have high cholesterol, consider altering your diet and/or taking medication
• If you have high blood pressure, consider diet and activity changes and medication 
• If you’re under a lot of pressure, find ways to minimize your stress

There are specific medications called peripheral vasodilators that can work directly to expand narrowed arteries, relieving many PAD symptoms. For advanced cases of PAD, Dr Ahmed performs a minor surgery to open up your arteries and restore normal blood flow.

Getting a PAD diagnosis can be bad news, but it’s also good news. If you don’t know something is wrong, you can’t take steps to remediate it. Knowing you have PAD lets you tackle your issues and improve your health.

For more information on PAD, call Apex Endovascular at 970-508-8439, or book a consultation online today.