Peripheral artery disease may be excruciating and have adverse complications, such as amputation. At Prime Heart and Vascular, vascular specialist Dr. Rishin Shah utilizes his more than ten years’ experience in treating men and women suffering from peripheral artery disease. Dr. Shah understands how this condition can affect one’s daily life; hence, provides innovative treatments to reduce the risks and prevent further complications. Because vital blood vessels run throughout your entire cardiovascular system, it is essential you select a skilled cardiologist to offer you expert medical care. To get started, reach out to the Allen, Frisco, or Plano peripheral artery disease specialists today through mobile or request an appointment using the online scheduling tool.
Table of Contents
What Is Peripheral Artery Disease?
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a prevalent medical condition, which develops once plaque accumulates in your arteries, resulting in reduced blood circulation. This condition typically restricts blood flow in your feet, toes, and legs but may also affect arteries located anywhere in the body.
The reduced circulation might result in leg pain while at rest or walking. One may also experience discolored or dry skin, cramping, non-healing wounds, aching pain, a feeling of heaviness, weakness, cold, or numbness in their legs.
What Are the Risk Factors For PAD?
The risk factors for peripheral artery disease include tobacco use, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, and aging (above 50). This condition can result in foot and leg sores.
If left untreated, the sores may not heal well and might get infected, in turn, requiring amputation, or in severe cases, critical limb ischemia (CLI). PAD is also linked to a heightened risk of heart disease, and reduced blood circulation to the heart can cause angina and fatal heart attacks.
What Are the Available Treatment Options for PAD?
Dr. Shah develops personalized treatment plans and offers an extensive range of highly effective treatments for PAD. These include physical rehabilitation, lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet, medications, supervised walking therapy, and, if necessary, minimally-invasive treatments to open blockages.
Dr. Shah begins by evaluating your condition based on prevailing symptoms, family and medical history, and multiple other factors. Typically, he starts with lifestyle adjustments like exercise and diet and incorporates treatments appropriately. A healthy lifestyle change with regular exercise, a nutrient-packed diet, and stress-relief can significantly help prevent and manage PAD.
It’s crucial to bear in mind that minimally-invasive treatments help restore blood flow in the legs and work in handy to save your feet and legs while avoiding amputation. For many minimally-invasive procedures, patients can go home on the same day. The available options include:
- Atherectomy- a procedure to extract the buildup from your artery.
- Stent- a metal scaffold that works to keep the artery open.
- Balloon Angioplasty- a small tube is inserted in your blood vessel as an IV to flatten the blockage to the artery’s sides and enhance blood flow.
In conclusion, Dr. Shah is an expert in preventing amputations. In case you have concerns or symptoms associated with peripheral artery disease, reach out to him for compassionate and comprehensive care. To request an appointment today, call the office of Prime Heart and Vascular or use the online scheduling tool.