• Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment

     
     
     
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    Treatment Options for Leg and Kidney Blockages (PAD)

    Treatment options are available to help prevent or slow the development of blockages to the legs and kidneys caused by atherosclerosis. Successful treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD) can make a significant difference in your life by

    • reducing your risk of heart attack and stroke
    • reducing your risk of high blood pressure and possible kidney failure
    • providing relief from pain and other symptoms that have been preventing you from doing the many things you used to enjoy 
    • saving your legs and feet from serious infection, gangrene, and amputation

    Your physician will consider the full spectrum of options in deciding what is best for you. The earlier PAD is diagnosed and the sooner treatment begins, the better your prospects for slowing its progress. 

    Spectrum of Care

    The type of treatment you receive for PAD, as with cardiovascular disease in general, depends on your personal circumstances, the extent of disability and risk, and the nature of the problem. 

    If you have blockages in your arteries, your physician will assess the severity of your cardiovascular disease and where you best fit among a range of treatment options – sometimes referred to as the spectrum of care. The spectrum of care options for cardiovascular disease consist of a combination of treatments including – 

    • Lifestyle changes  
    • Medications   
    • Revascularization, or treatment to re-establish blood flow through a narrowed artery. Options for revascularization include:   
      • Angioplasty and stenting and other interventional procedures 
      •  Bypass surgery  

    Some patients may be at the beginning stages of cardiovascular disease. In this case, changing lifestyle elements such as diet and exercise might be enough to get you back on track for good health. For other patients, medication in addition to lifestyle changes can slow or reverse the progress of cardiovascular disease. However, if the arteries that carry blood to your legs or kidneys become so clogged and narrowed that blood flow is restricted or blocked and cannot supply enough oxygen to your muscles and other organs, your physician may recommend an endovascular or surgical procedure to restore blood flow to the muscles.

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    Dr. Sahil A. Parikh describes some of the most commonly prescribed medications for PAD.

  • More About Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Treatment

    Access to Care

    Some of the patients who are most in need of cardiovascular screening and treatment have the greatest difficulty accessing quality care. Healthcare professionals are working to identify and resolve access issues based on race, gender, and socioeconomic status.

    Angioplasty & Stents

    Angioplasty is a procedure designed to restore normal blood flow through clogged or blocked arteries, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, and other serious cardiovascular problems. Stents are tiny medical devices that prop arteries open to keep them from collapsing after angioplasty. Together, they are the standard of care to treat a heart attack in progress and can be used to treat blockages in arteries leading to the brain, kidneys, legs or arms.

    Approval of New Treatments

    Now more than ever, people with cardiovascular disease can be assured there are effective medications, procedures, and other treatments available to treat their conditions. New treatments, like any invention, start with an idea. Medical treatments must then undergo studies called clinical trials and be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they can be adopted for use.

    Bypass Surgery

    If a lengthy portion of an artery becomes narrowed or if a vessel is severely blocked, bypass surgery may be recommended. Bypass surgery is performed by a cardiovascular surgeon, a medical specialist trained in surgical procedures to treat conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. The procedure is performed in a hospital operating room.

    Cardiac Rehabilitation

    Cardiac rehabilitation programs help participants resume a healthy lifestyle after a cardiac event and include monitored exercise, education and counseling about cardiac risk factors, and psychosocial support. Studies have shown that participants who complete cardiac rehab programs have better odds of a longer life than those who don’t complete a program.

    Healthcare Reform

    The SecondsCount Guide to the Affordable Care Act can help you understand how healthcare reform affects your access to care and the quality of care you and your family receive so that you can make the best possible decisions when it comes to your cardiovascular health and wellness.

    Healthy Living

    Did you know that how you live may play a part in how long you will live? This is great news - you have some control over your own health and well-being. You may already have cardiovascular disease, but it's never too late to make changes in your lifestyle that will help your heart and arteries. This comprehensive section on nutrition, physical activity, stress management, smoking cessation, and more can help you adopt heart-healthy lifestyle changes.

    Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment

    Treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) aims to: • improve symptoms and quality of life, • prevent sudden cardiac death, and • due to the genetic nature of the disease, inform all families members about HCM.

    Medications

    Your physician may prescribe medication as a crucial tool for fighting cardiovascular disease, alongside interventional procedures, surgery, and lifestyle changes. Depending on your form of cardiovascular disease and treatment history, you may be prescribed medications from among any of the following classes: statins, antihypertensives, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, nitrates, anticoagulants, antiplatelets, and clot busters (thrombolytics).

    Pediatric Heart Treatments

    If your child has been diagnosed with congenital heart disease - a heart defect present at birth - your child’s care team will evaluate a range of treatment options. The same holds true for children who acquire heart disease after birth and for adult survivors of congenital heart disease. Treatment options vary greatly depending on the type and severity of the heart defect.