PAD stands for Peripheral Artery Disease, a condition forming in the arteries of the human body. The symptoms of this disease form when plaque is built in the arteries, which makes it quite harder for the head, legs, arms and other organs of the body to get sufficient amounts of blood. It is an intricate and complex disease, which causes some complications and troubles the normal working of the human body. In addition to the PAD treatment, there are some tips, which when followed, help you to live an active and healthy lifestyle by following some important tips. They are:
- Walk as well as rest
PAD causes pain, due to which you might cut on the back activities. But exercising is a requirement in PAD in order to live a healthy lifestyle.
You would wonder if it’s good to do exercise even when there is pain. The answer is Yes! Doing basic exercises is much required to maintain the normal working of the body. But you need to make sure that you do not overexert your body by doing strenuous exercises because doing so could lead to negative consequences. Start with the basic and easy exercises and make sure you take a small break every time it is required. Pause whenever you feel the pain and resume as it gets better; doing this would help in building up the body.
Stretch well before you start walking, and do not try to cover a distant area in the beginning. Gradually, increase the distance because moving as much as possible keeps you healthy. If you find the pain too much to even do the basic exercises, contact your doctor to get the medications for maintaining the blood flow in your legs, which will help in reducing the pain.
- Find out the suitable exercises
It is advisable to contact your doctor to know about the activities, which are best and suitable for you. They might suggest you an exercise plan, which is shown to control the symptoms of PAD. Try to do 30-minute exercises several times every week, when your appointment is done. Keep on changing and mixing the exercises so that you do not get bored doing the same type of workout. Find a company to do the exercises with or hire a personal trainer, if possible, as they could help you to be consistently focused.
Doing exercises not only helps in reducing the symptoms but also lowers blood pressure as well as the levels of bad cholesterol. Thus, it is healthy for you.
- Take good care of your legs and feet
PAD is usually felt in the legs, especially, in the thighs or calves. When the blood cannot freely flow, it leads to numbness or pain. The pain usually gets worse while walking or doing some sort of activity as that’s when the muscles require more blood. It is advisable to wear suitable shoes so that you are comfortable while walking. Wearing compression socks should be usually avoided. And, in case you feel there is a need to wear them, make sure you consult your doctor about it.
Keep a check on your toes and feet if there are any cracks or sores. In case you notice any bumps or hard patches, you are required to get them treated by the specialist of the foot, known as a podiatrist.
- Keep yourself warm
It’s advisable to stay away from the cold and keep yourself warm even especially in the winter season. Doing a workout is a good way to keep your body properly warm. You will be required to keep yourself warm in winters by staying indoors, but make sure this does not stop you from following your routine workout to keep you healthy. Cover yourself well while going outside for walking or working out.
- Do not smoke
It’s very important for you to know that smoking could make your health condition worse and, thus, needs to be strictly avoided. The reason for it worsening your health is that it becomes harder for the arteries to function normally and carry the blood to the required way. It could also raise the chances of getting a stroke or heart attack.
- Avoid particular cold medicines
Certain medicines, for example, pseudoephedrine, are capable of providing you with relief while there is an allergy outbreak or cold but there are side effects of taking it. These medicines contain a drug, which does the work of narrowing the blood vessels leading to the symptoms of PAD getting worse. Therefore, make sure you check the labels or consult a pharmacist.
- Good diet
It is very important to keep your cholesterol level and weight healthy. To do so, you need to keep a healthy diet by eating lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meats, beans, plant oils, etc. You need to avoid consuming salt, alcohol, sugar and items with saturated fats. Also, avoid fats of artificial trans, which are contained in palm oil, coconut oil, etc.
- Manage all other health issues
High cholesterol, high BP, diabetes, etc., could make your PAD conditions worse in case you do not meet all the requirements. Keep in touch with your doctor and have regular checkups to avoid any symptoms getting worse.
- Follow the prescribed medication and do not miss appointments
There are some cases in which making some changes in the lifestyle is not enough and you would be required to take medicines. Make sure that you are in touch with your doctor and strictly follow the prescribed medication. Following the regular appointments with your doctor, in order to be updated with your condition, is also necessary.
Want to get the best treatment for PAD? Get in touch with the MVS team to get treated by the Maryland Vascular Specialists and receive the desired results.
