DiagnosisTo diagnose peripheral artery disease, a health care provider will examine you. You'll usually be asked questions about your symptoms and medical history. Show
If you have peripheral artery disease, the pulse in the affected area may be weak or missing. TestsTests that may be done to diagnose peripheral artery disease include:
TreatmentThe goals of treatment for peripheral artery disease are:
Treatments for peripheral artery disease includes lifestyle changes and sometimes, medication. Lifestyle changes can help improve symptoms, especially early in the course of peripheral artery disease. If you smoke, quitting is the single most important thing you can do to reduce the risk of complications. Walking or doing other exercise on a regular, scheduled basis (supervised exercise training) can improve symptoms dramatically. MedicationsIf peripheral artery disease (PAD) is causing symptoms, your provider may prescribe medicine. Medications for PAD may include:
Surgeries or other proceduresIn some cases, angioplasty or surgery may be necessary to treat peripheral artery disease that's causing claudication:
Clinical trialsExplore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Lifestyle and home remediesMaking healthy lifestyle changes can help you manage peripheral artery disease symptoms and prevent them from getting worse. Try these tips:
ExerciseExercise is an important part of PAD treatment. Regular exercise helps the body use oxygen better and improves symptoms of PAD. Sometimes, the exercise that will help you get better may cause pain. But don't get discouraged. As you continue exercising, you'll be able to walk longer without pain. Your health care provider likely will prescribe supervised exercise therapy to increase the distance you can walk pain-free. Careful foot careIn addition to lifestyle changes, take good care of your feet. People with PAD, especially those who also have diabetes, are at risk of poor healing of sores and injuries on the lower legs and feet. Poor blood flow can delay or prevent proper healing. It also increases the risk of infection. Follow this advice to care for your feet:
Also, try sleeping with the head of the bed raised a few inches. Keeping the legs below the level of the heart usually reduces pain. Preparing for your appointmentYou might first visit your family care provider. You may be referred to a doctor who specializes in disorders of blood vessels (vascular specialist) or a doctor trained in heart diseases (cardiologist). Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot to discuss, it's a good idea to arrive well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your provider. What you can do
For peripheral artery disease, some basic questions to ask your health care provider include:
Don't hesitate to ask additional questions during your appointment if you don't understand something. What to expect from your doctorYour health care provider is likely to ask you many questions. Being ready to answer them may save time to go over any details you want to spend more time on. Your provider may ask:
What you can do in the meantimeIf you smoke, quit. Smoking increases the risk of peripheral artery disease and can make existing PAD worse. If you need help quitting, ask your care provider for strategies that can help. Eating less saturated fat and adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet are two other healthy lifestyle habits you can immediately try. When assessing a client for possible varicose veins which of the following with the nurse do?Explanation: The nurse should firmly compress the lower portion of the varicose vein with one hand. The nurse should ask the client to stand, not sit, on a chair for the examination. The second hand should be placed 6 to 8 inches, not 3 to 4 inches, above the first hand.
What pulse is located in the group between the medial malleolus and the Achilles tendon?Whereas the groove between the medial malleolus and the Achilles tendon more readily defines the location of the posterior tibial pulse, the location of the dorsalis pedis pulse remains vague. In this paper a novel method of locating the dorsalis pedis pulse by physical examination is described.
What pulse is located in the groove between the medial malleolus?Explanation: The posterior tibial pulse is located in the groove between the medial malleolus and the Achilles tendon. The femoral pulse is about halfway between the symphysis pubis and the anterior iliac spine, just below the inguinal ligament.
Which area of the body should be assessed if an enlarged right Epitrochlear lymph node is palpated?Epitrochlear nodes are best sought with the patient's elbow flexed to about 90°. The right epitrochlear area is approached by inserting the examiner's left hand from behind the patient's elbow while the examiner's right hand grasps the right wrist of the patient, supporting the forearm, as in Figure 149.2B.
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