Read up on Peripheral arterial disease treatment options at Consumer Reports Health.

Peripheral arterial disease

Key points about treatments

There are many treatments that can help with your symptoms of peripheral arterial disease. They can also reduce your risk of other health problems. There are also things you can do to help yourself.

Taking medications that prevent blood clots from forming may reduce your chances of having a heart attack or a

stroke
You have a stroke when the blood supply to a part of your brain is cut off. This damages your brain and can cause symptoms like weakness or numbness on one side of your body. You may also find it hard to speak if you've had a stroke.

stroke. Medications can also reduce your chance of needing surgery to unblock an

arteries
Arteries are the blood vessels that take blood that is rich in oxygen and food away from your heart. The arteries carry this blood to all the tissues in your body.

artery in your leg.
Taking regular exercise (at least three times a week) may help you to walk further and exercise for longer before you get pain in your calf.
Taking statins can also help in the same way as exercise. Statins are medications that help reduce the amount of

cholesterol
Cholesterol is made by your liver or absorbed from food. It is used by your body to make bile acids (which help your intestines absorb nutrients) and steroid hormones (like testosterone or estrogen). Cholesterol is also an important part of cell membranes, which are the structures that surround cells. "Good cholesterol" is called HDL; "bad cholesterol" is LDL.

cholesterol in your blood. They can also reduce your risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.
Quitting smoking and taking medications to keep your cholesterol down may stop peripheral arterial disease from getting worse.
If the arteries to your leg get very narrowed, you may need surgery to make them wider or bypass the most damaged parts. But the benefits may not last more than a few years.

This information was last updated on Sep 02, 2008

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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