What Are Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Treatment Options?

Whether you have diabetes or you’re suffering from obesity, PAD (peripheral artery disease) is a possible consequence of a lot of diseases and problems, that can even become life-threatening. Treating PAD is essential to be done early on, when the problem is not as serious, and it can still be addressed through various exercise techniques and improved dieting choices. Once it becomes more serious, these options might still be available, but they also have to be enhanced through more advanced complementary treatment options.

A Quick Overview of PAD

What is PAD? As the name would suggest, it’s a disorder that has a lot to do with the patient’s arteries. While in most people, arteries and blood vessels are somewhat flexible and allow for the free flowing of blood to organs and muscles, in people with PAD, that flexibility is somewhat impaired and the blood vessels are narrowed and blocked by plaque, which can lead to life-threatening issues.

Since the blood can no longer flow properly, blood pressure can increase greatly and lead to the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Another possible risk that could occur would be a TIA (transient ischemic attack) which is a temporary blockage of blood supply to the brain. Additionally, PAD can also lead to the development of medical problems that are not lethal, but can still be extremely problematic. These may include renal artery disease and the need o amputate a part of or an entire limb, especially in people who suffer from diabetes.

Possible Treatments That Can Be Considered

The good news is PAD can be treated. The bad news is that early treatment will typically involve the need for a complete change in lifestyle, eating habits and exercising activities. A lot of doctors will immediately recommend that their patients quit smoking as soon as possible and give up other unhealthy habits, such as drinking alcohol, eating sweets and maintaining a sedentary lifestyle, as well. Adopting a regular exercise program is probably the most important measure that will be recommended.

PAD treatments Denver CO

One of the possible PAD treatments Denver CO doctors may recommend in the case of patients suffering from PAD is balloon angioplasty. The procedure involves the insertion of a small balloon into the bloodstream, which can be expanded to press against the walls of arteries and help break down plaque in key areas.

Stents are small metal inserts that can also be introduced into the arteries for the purpose of keeping them open and ensuring better blood flow in areas that are of a higher risk. They can be added with the help of catheters without the need for invasive surgical procedures.

Finally, you can also get around the risks and problems of PAD with the help of traditional bypass surgery. Similar to a heart bypass, this procedure can be quite complicated, involving a surgeon using a healthy vein to bypass the section of the circulatory system where the plaque depositions are observed to be most severe. This type of intervention is only reserved for the most serious and high risk cases of PAD.