Early Detection & Treatment For Peripheral Artery Disease

About 10 to 14 million people in the US have Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), which is characterized by the narrowing of arteries. This disease increases the risk of heart and stroke in most people, so its management is extremely necessary. The two major points in reversing this disease are its early detection and advanced treatment methods. This blog will discuss how the innovative diagnosis and treatment for peripheral artery disease can lower heart issues in suspected people.

What is Peripheral Artery Disease?

The heart supplies blood to the brain and the rest of the body parts through a network of blood vessels spread throughout the body. An unhealthy diet, hypertension, and smoking can cause the buildup of fat in the vessels, which causes blockages. Due to these blockages, it is difficult for the blood to reach the respective areas, especially the legs. This condition is called atherosclerosis, and if it becomes widespread, it is referred to as PAD. There are different stages of PAD, and the severity can later cause a heart attack or stroke.

The symptoms are:

• Numbness in Legs
• Leg Cramps
• Coldness
• Week pulses in legs and feet
• Sore feet

Peripheral Artery Disease Tests

Tests to diagnose peripheral artery disease include:

• A blood test can show high cholesterol and blood pressure, which could be an indication of PAD.
• Doppler ultrasound can show imaging of blockage in arteries.
• Angiography is another imaging test that uses dye to detect arterial blockage.

Early Detection of PAD with TM Flow System

TM Flow System is a non-invasive device, and one of its technologies is TBL-ABI which measures the difference in blood pressure in legs and arms and calculates it to assess the risk of arterial blockage that will lead to PAD. TM Flow device performs a TM flow test that generates a report which, along with other values, gives ABI measurements. ABI of ≤ 0.90 suggests the risk of developing PAD. The timely treatment cures PAD before it converts into a major heart disease, like an attack or stroke.

New Treatments for Peripheral Artery Disease

PAD is usually treated with medicine that improves blood flow, exercise, and some lifestyle changes. The severe cases sometimes need surgery before they turn into major heart issues. Recent advancements have improved PAD treatments as well. Here are some of the new treatments for peripheral artery disease:

Newly Approved Medications

Some novel medications for PAD have been approved recently. One is Rivaroxaban, an oral medication with anticoagulant ability that prevents blood clotting. It is taken with aspirin and can be used to avoid heart disease in PAD patients. Another one is Naftidrofuryl Oxalate which improves the flow of blood towards limbs. There are also vasodilators, Cilostazol and Pentoxifylline, that are used to treat PAD. These two medications dilate blood vessels and improve the flow of blood.

Non-Surgical Procedures

One of the non-invasive procedures is Cryoplasty which uses cold therapy during angioplasty to reduce arterial damage. Another recent advancement is the use of drug-coated stents that deliver medication to the place of blockage and open clogged arteries. Laser therapy has also been used to dissolve plaque in arteries.

Surgical Options

The surgical procedure for PAD is usually bypass surgery, which has a long recovery period. The advanced way for this is minimally invasive bypass surgery, which involves minor cuts in the chest and has a short recovery time. Another technique is Endovascular atherectomy, a surgical way to remove fatty plaque from the blocked arteries so blood can flow easily.

LifeStyle Improvements For Treating PAD

Treating PAD is not just entirely based on treatment because one of the major things is your lifestyle. First of all, you should stop smoking if you are a smoker. Smoking could be the reason you got PAD in the first place, and continuing it will only make it worse. Another improvement is to avoid the intake of trans fats and start eating a diet that can reduce cholesterol levels, such as lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables. You should also lower salt intake to manage your blood pressure which can increase because of restricted blood flow. Start exercising and begin with light ones like walking and cycling.

Conclusion

Management of PAD is important to avoid the risk of heart disease. You can start with its early detection procedures like the TM flow test, and then some lifestyle changes and medications can give you a better quality of life. Proper treatment for peripheral artery disease is available and new methods and medications have improved the patient’s outcome a lot.