Treatment Options For Peripheral Arterial Disease

Medication

Some cases of peripheral arterial disease can be managed by lifestyle changes, while others combine these changes with medication. Most peripheral arterial disease patients follow a daily acetylsalicylic acid regimen. Medicine may be recommended in addition to lifestyle changes to prevent blood clots, increase blood flow to the legs and feet, and lower blood pressure. Cholesterol-lowering medications can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Reducing 'bad' cholesterol is particularly important for patients with additional risk factors like diabetes or smoking. Individuals with both peripheral arterial disease and diabetes usually need prescription medication to control their blood sugar levels. Studies have shown some medications can improve pain-free walking in patients with intermittent claudication by sixty percent. Cilostazol increases blood flow to the limbs and treats leg pain and other symptoms of claudication. Thrombolytic therapy injects clot-dissolving drugs directly into the blood clot to break it apart.

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