Many treatment options are available
There is good news for the millions of Americans living with peripheral artery disease (PAD)6: Many treatment options are available.
If you’re concerned about your condition, don’t wait to explore these options. Discuss your symptoms with a health care professional now. In some cases, your doctor may recommend diet changes, exercise and/or medications.
If that is unsuccessful, your doctor may also recommend minimally invasive treatment options.20 In minimally invasive surgery, surgeons use a variety of techniques to operate with less injury to the body than with open surgery. In general, it is safer than open surgery and allows you to recover faster and heal with less pain and scarring.
Angioplasty and atherectomy are types of minimally invasive procedures you might hear about. These methods are called endovascular, meaning the procedure takes place “inside the blood vessel.”
To perform endovascular procedures, surgeons use special technologies and instruments. These procedures require only a small incision or puncture in an artery.
Arterial bypass surgery is another treatment option your doctor may recommend. This procedure uses a blood vessel or synthetic tube to help blood flow around a narrowed or blocked artery.
Ask your health care professional if he or she is familiar with the treatment options for PAD.20 If your doctor is not aware of all the different possibilities, consult a PAD specialist.33 You can locate one with our Find a Doctor tool.
THE GOOD NEWS: There are many TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PAD. So don’t wait. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor now.
Talk to Your Doctor
Only a health care professional can diagnose you with PAD. Our Symptom Quiz can help guide the conversation about your treatment options.
Take the Symptom Quiz
Click below to take the interactive Symptom Quiz. You can print your answers out and take them with you to a doctor to help guide your conversation about PAD.
Stop ignoring the signs. Talk to a PAD specialist. Take control of your health.