The vascular system is responsible for ensuring proper blood flow in the body. It comprises of blood vessels and organs such as the heart, which is responsible for pumping the blood to every part of the body. If a patient has obstructed blood flow, it can lead to a host of vascular conditions that include reduced blood flow to certain parts of the body, which may cause stroke and other life-threatening aneurysms. To ensure that you are always in good health, you need to make your vascular health a priority.
Unfortunately, some causes of vascular conditions are beyond our control. For instance, some vascular conditions can be inherited, and hence you can’t do much about it if it runs in the family. Another major cause of the vascular condition is age. Too bad we can’t reverse the aging process, but the good news is that there are actions you can take to lessen the likelihoods of developing or slowing down the progression of some vascular conditions and aneurysms.
What causes vascular health problems?
Most of the vascular health problems begin when the blood vessels become thickened and stiff. Formation of blood clots and deposition of cholesterol on the walls of arteries slows down or obstructs the smooth flow of blood to the heart and the rest of the body. It is the reduced blood flow that leads to vascular conditions such as critical limb ischemia, non-healing wounds, and peripheral artery disease.
What is peripheral artery disease (PAD)?
Peripheral artery disease is the most common among all circulator problems. It occurs when there is a restriction to blood flowing to the limbs. In the US., about 3 million cases of PAD are diagnosed every year. The condition occurs when too much fat or cholesterol is deposited on the walls of the arteries. Continued build-up of the plaque in the arteries reduces the amount of blood reaching the limbs.
Does peripheral artery disease show any symptoms?
At first, peripheral artery disease may not show any symptoms. When they appear, the patient may experience excruciating pain or cramping in the limbs. The symptoms will mostly show up when the individual engages in physical activity, and they disappear after a short while.
Sometimes the pain caused by PAD is too much, and you can’t even walk. In extreme cases, PAD cause infections, painful foot ulcers, and gangrene. Symptoms that you should be concerned about include cold legs, slow toenail growth, blue-tinged leg, and loss and thinning of leg hair.
Is there an effective treatment for peripheral artery disease (PAD)?
The treatment options that are available for PAD aim at managing the symptoms to improve the patient’s quality of life. You can manage peripheral artery disease by making the appropriate lifestyle changes, taking over-the-counter medication, or undergoing surgery. Metro vein centers are among the most trusted clinics offering various treatment options for PAD using the latest technology.
Who’s at risk of developing peripheral artery disease?
Peripheral artery disease can affect anyone. But you should be wary if you have kidney disease, obese, history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke or heart attack.
