Peripheral arterial disease affects millions of Americans and can result in extreme morbidity such as amputation and death. One in five patients over 75 experience peripheral arterial disease, but only 25% of those patients undergo treatment options.
To officially diagnose a patient with peripheral arterial disease, a doctor will conduct an exam called the Ankle Brachial Index (ABI). This exam uses an ultrasound device to measure the blood pressure in the arms and feet of the patients. The doctor will take into account the results of the ABI testing as well as other symptoms and circumstances of the patient before making a final diagnosis. If they cannot draw a conclusion, additional tests will be required.
As for treating peripheral arterial disease, you’ll have to be prepared to make some changes to your lifestyle. If you are a smoker, you should quit immediately. The risk of peripheral arterial diseases increases significantly with smoking, and it also increases the risk of other diseases (heart disease especially) as well.
You’ll also want to embark on an exercise program that will help treat the existing symptoms and stop additional progression of peripheral arterial disease. For some patients, simply doing the exercise program is all that’s needed for fixing the disease. Besides structured exercising, you should also try being very physically active. Symptoms of peripheral arterial disease will only get worse if no physical activity is taking.
Additional ways to stop the progression of the disease is to lower your blood pressure, which can also halt symptoms of other diseases such as kidney disease or heart failure. You should also work on lowering your high blood cholesterol, which can eliminate the presence of plaque in the arteries. Lastly, try to lower your levels of blood sugar levels as well. While this one can be trickier to regulate, you can take a hemoglobin A1C test to show the results.
Besides these steps, your podiatrist may also prescribe medication that help lower your cholesterol and high blood pressure levels. One of the best things about taking medication is that it can reduce the pain felt during the disease and increase the walking distance one can take at a time. In the most extreme cases, a doctor may recommend surgery to eliminate artery blockages. These surgeries will always be performed by a vascular surgeon.
Dr. Ian S. Goldbaum is a Podiatric Physician and Surgeon serving patients in Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach.
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