Peripheral Artery Disease - How Can It Be Diagnosed & Treated?

Peripheral artery disease is a condition brought about by the partial blocking of the main arteries that carry pure blood from the heart to the different parts of the body. When the block occurs or when the flow of blood is restricted, then the functions are directly affected since they may not receive sufficient blood at regular intervals. The most frequently observed form of the peripheral artery disease is the feeling of pain in the legs while walking.

Though it is in the legs that most people seem to find the pain initially, there are other parts of the body like the arms, stomach, head and even the kidneys. As mentioned, the trouble starts when the body is not able to burn enough fat and it deposits itself in the inside walls of the blood vessels leading to these cramp like conditions. These deposits are also known as plaques. Within the medical field, the peripheral artery disease can also be identified or called by other names such as Atherosclerosis or peripheral vascular disease and so on.

Diagnosis of the disease
As with any health condition, the specialist will do a physical examination of the part which you complain is giving you the pain and will ask you a series of questions regarding your personal details, family history and any previous complaints of this sort or of different nature. The best way the doctors would confirm if it is a peripheral artery disease is by a process called ankle-brachial index. This involves finding the differential between the pressure of the blood in your body, in the arms which are closer to the heart, and the legs the farthest. This could reveal to the doctor if the rate of flow of blood to the farthest part like the feet is the same as to the arms. If the doctor finds a substantial difference in the blood circulation, then the doubt increases. The advanced diagnostic tests needed to confirm a case of peripheral artery disease include the Doppler and Ultrasound tests, Angiography and Magnetic resonance Angiography (MRA). These tests will give conclusive evidence to the doctor that it is indeed a case of peripheral artery disease.

Treatment for Peripheral Artery Disease
There are different ways in which the peripheral artery disease can be countered. One way is to change the lifestyle and food habits of the affected person. Since it is obvious that the deposition of plaque from the fatty foods consumed by the person is responsible for the condition, merely stopping the consumption of such items can have a salutary effect. Other steps like quit smoking, if you were into this bad habit, exercising regularly and taking suitable medication as prescribed can treat the condition. In severe cases, procedures like Angioplasty might have to be performed. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!