Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD), also known as peripheral arterial disease, is a relatively common circulatory condition in which blood flow to your limbs is reduced due to narrowed arteries.

Because your arms or legs do not receive enough blood flow, it causes symptoms such as pain when walking, numbness or weakness in your limbs, coldness, cramping, or a change in the color of your legs. PAD is also often a sign of atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty deposits in your arteries.

If left untreated, PAD may progress to the point where pain may occur when you are resting or lying down and disrupt your sleep.

Risk factors for PAD include:

treatment for Peripheral Arterial Disease

Often, PAD can be successfully treated by eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and exercising.  However, when it is severe, PAD needs to be addressed by a qualified cardiologist like Dr. Eli S. Levine and Dr. Michael A. Schechter at Advanced Heart and Vascular Institute in Boca Raton Florida.

Possible treatments for PAD include:

  • Cholesterol-lowering medications (statin)
  • High blood pressure medications
  • Medications to control blood sugar and prevent blood clots
  • Angioplasty, a surgical procedure in which a catheter is threaded through a blood vessel to an affected artery, where a small balloon is inflated to reopen the artery and increase blood flow
  • Bypass surgery, in which a path around a blocked artery is created using a blood vessel from another part of the body or a synthetic vessel
  • Thrombolytic therapy, in which a clot-dissolving drug is injected into your artery

Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment in Boca Raton, FL

To learn more about treatment for peripheral arterial disease, contact Advanced Heart and Vascular Institute at (561) 235-5621 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Levine or Dr. Schechter. Or you can use our convenient, online Request an Appointment form to arrange your visit.