Angioplasty is a procedure to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels that supply blood to your legs. Fatty deposits can build up inside the arteries and block blood flow. A stent is a small, metal mesh tube that keeps the artery open.
Some blockages, like shorter blockages in the legs, are best treated through a catheter-based procedure called angioplasty. During an angioplasty, your vascular surgeon places a catheter with a balloon at its tip into your artery and inflates the balloon to open the blockage.
The most common symptom is leg pain that occurs while walking or climbing but goes away with rest. For many patients, treatment includes lifestyle changes or medication. Those with severe plaque buildup may need vascular surgery or a minimally invasive procedure to clear the blockage.
There is no easy way to unclog an artery once plaque has built up. But, dietary choices, exercise, and avoiding smoking can improve cardiovascular health and stop blockages from worsening. In some cases, medication or surgery may be necessary.
Causes. PAD is commonly caused by atherosclerosis. This problem occurs when fatty material (plaque) builds up on the walls of your arteries and makes them narrower. The walls of the arteries also become stiffer and cannot widen (dilate) to allow greater blood flow when needed.
When the blockage is severe, it can cause tissue death or gangrene, which can lead to amputation of the affected limbs. If you experience cramping in your buttocks, thighs or calves after a short walk, this is a good indication that you have PAD.
Although it isn't possible to remove plaque from your arterial walls without surgery, you can halt and prevent future plaque build-up. Research does not support that specific food items can help clear arteries naturally, but a healthier diet is essential to reduce the chance of it forming in the first place.
Tea. Tea is packed with phytonutrients (plant chemicals) called flavonoids, which have been shown to reduce inflammation and buildup in your arteries.
Ginger, garlic and lemon detox drink – Boil ginger and garlic and strain. Squeeze the juice of one full lemon into it. This is strong detox drink to get rid of bad cholesterol and also flush out all toxins from the arteries.
Walking is especially good for you
There's no limitation in what a person with peripheral artery disease can do,” Dr. Mohler notes. “But the majority of the clinical trials out there support the benefits of walking. That is why we recommend it for our patients.”
Symptoms of poor circulation are often easy to spot. They include muscle cramping, constant foot pain, and pain and throbbing in the arms and legs. As well as fatigue, varicose veins, and digestive issues. Leg cramps while walking and wounds that don't seem to heal in your legs, feet, and toes are also symptoms.
Elevate your legs.
Lie down on the floor with your buttocks against the wall, elevate your legs against the wall and keep them straight. Lie down on the couch, floor, or bed and elevate your legs above the level of your heart on pillows or cushions.
Cilostazol improves the flow of blood through the blood vessels. It is used to reduce leg pain caused by poor circulation (intermittent claudication). Cilostazol makes it possible to walk farther before having to rest because of leg pain.
Optimal Vitamin K2 intake is crucial to avoid the calcium plaque buildup of atherosclerosis, thus keeping the risk and rate of calcification as low as possible. Matrix GLA protein (MGP)—found in the tissues of the heart, kidneys, and lungs—plays a dominant role in vascular calcium metabolism.
Can you unclog your arteries, or reduce plaque buildup? "Making plaque disappear is not possible, but we can shrink and stabilize it," says Dr. Cannon. Doctors target smaller, unstable plaque.
Lifting weights can produce more prominent veins in the exercised muscles. Veins are also more prominent after exercise because you are dehydrated. Increase your body temperature. When your body heats, the blood is pushed towards the surface of the skin, increasing the appearance of veins.
Magnesium prevents calcium buildup in cholesterol plaque in arteries, which leads to clogged arteries. Magnesium levels are inversely associated with cardiovascular disease risk.
The build-up of fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries makes the arteries narrower and restricts blood flow to the legs. This process is called atherosclerosis. There are certain things that can increase your chances of developing PAD and other forms of CVD, including: smoking – the most significant risk factor.
Vascular pain often feels like an uncomfortable heaviness or throbbing sensation. It can also feel like an aching sensation. It usually affects your legs and can be worse with walking or exerting yourself.