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Peripheral Artery Disease: Treatment & Diagnosis​

Peripheral artery disease treatment at Pristyn Care emphasizes on restoring healthy blood flow, relieving leg pain, and allowing you to stay active. Our experienced vascular specialists use advanced techniques and personalised treatment plans to improve mobility, improve circulation, and support long-term vascular health.

Peripheral artery disease treatment at Pristyn Care emphasizes on restoring healthy blood flow, ... Read More

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About Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) treatment aims at improving blood circulation in narrowed or blocked arteries, most often in the legs, to reduce pain and prevent serious complications. It is usually provided by a vascular specialist after thorough evaluation.

Based on the severity, treatment may include lifestyle changes, supervised exercise programs, and medications to manage symptoms and control risk factors.

In more advanced cases, doctors recommend minimally invasive procedures like angioplasty. Here, they guide a thin catheter into the blocked artery and use a balloon or stent to widen it, restoring healthy circulation.

The goal of PAD treatment is to relieve discomfort, enhance mobility, and protect limb health. Timely treatment allows you to resume routine activities with improved walking ability and reduced risk of long-term vascular complications.

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Peripheral Artery Disease Symptoms & Causes

PAD Symptoms PAD Causes
Leg pain while walking Plaque buildup
Numbness in leg Smoking habit
Cold feet Diabetes
Slow-healing sores High blood pressure
Weak pulse High cholesterol
Skin color change (discolored skin) Obesity
Shiny skin / hair loss Family history (genetic factor)

Diagnosis Before Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment

Diagnosing peripheral artery disease (PAD) begins with an in-depth discussion about your symptoms, lifestyle, and medical history with the doctor. Your vascular specialist checks the pulse in your legs and feet, as PAD often causes it to feel weak or completely absent.

Common Tests for PAD

To confirm the diagnosis and understand the severity of the condition, doctors usually recommend peripheral artery disease tests.

  • Blood tests: These help detect health issues that raise your risk for PAD, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, or inflammation.
  • Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI): A simple, non-invasive test that compares the blood pressure in your ankles with that in your arms. In some cases, the doctor takes the reading before and after walking on a treadmill to check how your circulation responds to physical activity.
  • Vascular ultrasound: Uses sound waves to create moving images of blood circulation in your leg arteries. A Doppler ultrasound identifies areas where blood flow is reduced or blocked.
  • Angiography: An advanced imaging test in which a contrast dye is injected into the blood vessels, making blockages or narrowing visible on X-ray, CT, or MRI scans.

Early and accurate diagnosis can keep you safe from complications and enable you to plan the most effective treatment for PAD.

 

Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment

Medication:

If you’re experiencing symptoms or complications from peripheral artery disease (PAD), your doctor may recommend medicines for blood circulation, ease discomfort, and reduce the risk of serious complications. Common options include:

  • Cholesterol-lowering medicines (statins): These medicines reduce harmful cholesterol levels, slowing the buildup of fatty deposits in your arteries. They also lower your chances of a heart attack or stroke.
  • Blood pressure control medicines: High blood pressure makes arteries stiff and narrow, further reducing blood circulation. Your vascular doctor may prescribe medication to help bring your blood pressure within a healthy range.
  • Diabetes management medicines: Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of PAD and speeds up artery damage. Keeping blood sugar in check with the right medicines can help protect your vessels.
  • Blood-thinning medicines: Drugs like aspirin or clopidogrel help prevent clots from forming in narrowed arteries, ensuring blood can flow more freely.
  • Medicines for leg discomfort: For people with PAD-related leg pain, cilostazol may be prescribed to improve blood flow and help you walk longer distances without discomfort.

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Surgical Treatment Options for PAD

  • Thrombolytic therapy: If a clot is blocking blood flow, doctors may deliver a special medication straight into the affected artery. This medicine works to dissolve the clot from within, allowing blood to move freely again.
  • Angioplasty and stenting: When an artery gets too narrow, the surgeon guides a thin tube with a small balloon into the tight spot. The balloon is gently inflated to widen the space and restore blood flow. If needed, the surgeon uses a tiny wire mesh tube (stent) to place inside the artery to keep it open in the long term.
  • Bypass surgery: If the blockage is too severe to open directly, surgeons can create a new “detour” for blood to travel. Using a healthy vessel from your body or a synthetic graft, the new pathway is connected above and below the blockage, ensuring blood reaches the muscles and tissues that need it.

Preparation for PAD Treatment

Getting ready for PAD treatment depends on the type of treatment you’re undergoing.  

Your medical team guides you through each step to ensure the best outcomes of the treatment.

You may need to:

  • Complete diagnostic tests such as ultrasounds, angiography, or blood work to map your arteries.
  • Review your medications with your doctor, as some blood thinners or diabetes medicines may need adjusting before the procedure.
  • Quit smoking well in advance, since tobacco reduces blood flow and slows healing.
  • Follow dietary instructions such as fasting before surgery or increasing heart-healthy foods.
  • Arrange post-treatment support—a friend or family member to help with transport and daily needs for the first few days.

A calm and well-prepared approach helps with a smooth recovery starting on the right note.

What to Expect After Surgery for Peripheral Artery Disease?

Recovery from PAD surgery varies depending on the type of procedure, your overall well-being, and how advanced the disease was before treatment. In most cases, this is what you can expect the following:  

  • Hospital stay: A short stay for monitoring, especially if you’ve had bypass surgery. Minimally invasive procedures may allow you to go home the same day.
  • Managing pain and swelling: Mild discomfort around the incision site or treated area is common and usually improves within a few days.
  • Gradually regaining mobility: Walking is encouraged early to improve blood flow, but activities will be increased gradually under medical guidance.
  • Medication adjustments: You may continue or start medicines to prevent clots, lower cholesterol, and protect your arteries.
  • Follow-up visits: Regular checkups and imaging to ensure the treated arteries remain open and healthy.

Most people notice improved leg strength and walking ability within weeks, especially when combined with lifestyle changes like exercise, healthy eating, and quitting smoking.

Recovery After Peripheral Artery Disease Surgery

While recovering from surgery for Peripheral Artery Disease, the focus should be on allowing blood flow to return to its natural path so that you are able to walk, move, and live with less pain.

In most cases, the first big relief comes after the procedure when the leg feels warmer or the pain subsides. If you’ve had a minimally invasive treatment such as angioplasty, you may be able to resume working on the same day. With bypass or open surgery, you may need a few extra days in the hospital for your body to regain strength.

Once you’re home, prioritize these three things:

  • Keep the treated area clean and dry: Keep the incision clean and dry. Watch for swelling, redness, or discharge.
  • Gentle movement everyday: Gentle walking helps your new blood pathway stay open, but avoid heavy lifting or strain.
  • Nurture your arteries: Quit smoking, eat heart-healthy meals, and take your medicines on time to keep blood flowing freely.

Most people start feeling better within 2–6 weeks after a minor surgical procedure and within 2–3 months after major surgery. Your doctor regularly monitors your growth to ensure the artery is open and your circulation is improving.

Remember, if you suddenly notice severe pain, your leg turns cold or pale, or you lose movement, call your doctor right away. Timely action for your health saves your limb.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which doctor should I consult for peripheral artery disease?

You should consult a vascular specialist or vascular surgeon for peripheral artery disease. They specialize in diagnosing and treating blood vessel disorders. In some cases, involving a cardiologist may also become necessary, especially if you already have related heart issues.

What should be avoided with peripheral artery disease?

Avoid smoking, an inactive lifestyle, excessive fat in diet, and uncontrolled blood sugar or blood pressure. These factors worsen artery narrowing and increase the risk of complications. Also, refrain from wearing overly tight footwear that reduces circulation.

Is peripheral artery disease dangerous?

Yes, if left untreated for a long time, PAD progresses and reduces blood flow to your limbs, increasing the risk of tissue damage, gangrene, or amputation. It also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Early detection and treatment are crucial to not let it become dangerous.

When does a PAD turn into an emergency?

PAD becomes an emergency in case of sudden, severe leg pain, coldness or numbness, loss of movement, or skin turning pale/blue. This indicates acute limb ischemia (reduced blood flow to the limb), which requires immediate medical treatment to prevent limb loss.

Which is the best exercise for peripheral artery disease?

For peripheral artery disease, regular walking is the most effective and practical exercise. Walking until you feel mild leg discomfort, taking a short break, and then continuing helps your blood vessels work better and lets you walk farther with less pain.

What is peripheral artery disease?

Peripheral artery disease is a vascular condition where arteries outside the heart, usually in the legs, become narrowed or blocked because of plaque buildup. PAD affects the blood flow, leading to symptoms like leg pain, cramping, or numbness, especially when you’re walking.