"Peripheral Artery Disease & Homoeopathy"

 Definition: Peripheral Artery Disease also named as Peripheral Arterial Disease is a clinical condition characterized by less blood flow to the lower limbs due to narrowed lumen of lower limbs arteries. Its one of the common circulatory problem of lower limbs. Its also called Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Features: 

1. It may also affect your arms but mostly the lower limbs are involved. 
2. Its a sign of fatty deposits in lumen of your arteries commonly known as atherosclerosis. 
3. It lowers down the blood flow to the kidneys,stomach & arms. 
4. Americans are mostly commonly affected by PAD than any other racial groups.
5. Males are frequently affected than females. 

Clinical Features: 

Mostly the people are not aware that they are suffering from PAD because its asymptomatic & they suddenly diagnosed with it as they face sudden cramp  & pain in lower limbs. 

1. Cramping may in hip & calf muscles after physical activities like walking, stretching arms or climbing something. You may also feel pain. 
2. Weakness and numbness of leg 
3. Coldness of the affected leg in compare to other leg .
4. Changes in the color of affected leg in compare to other. 
5. Hair loss in the affected leg or less growth of hairs in compare to other leg.
6. More glowing of skin in the affected leg.
7. Erectile Dysfunction in men .
8. Brittle toenails. 

Causes: 

Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis is the prime reason for the PAD. It cause shrinkage of lumen of arteries resulting in less flow blood. Usually it occurs in arteries of heart disease & all over the body but when it happens to limb, it causes PAD.

In atherosclerosis there is formation of plaque inside the lumen of arteries due to presence of fat & Cholesterol. Their formation process is very slow even we are unaware about. It makes our arteries harden & narrow & ultimately arteries lumen becomes smaller which would not allow to pass much blood flow.

     2.Risk Factors: There are certain factors which can enhances the condition.

-Family History of similar disease. 

-Diabetes

-High Blood Pressure

-High Cholesterol. 

-Smoking

-Obesity 

3.Complications: If PAD is caused by some deposits in your blood vessels, it may lead to following complications. 

a)Critical Limb Ischemia- Ischemia is a condition where there is less oxygen supply to the cells due to less blood flow. So, when there is any injury or infection in the limb & not treated for a long time it may leads to gangrene & amputation of limb is done. 

b)Stroke- Once atherosclerosis happened to the limb, it may not be limited to limbs only.Fatty deposits may also affect  your  heart  & brain. 

Diagnosis: PAD is easily diagnosed by following.

1.Physical Examination: There is weak or loss of pulse below narrowed area of artery. A whooshing sound will be there & cab be heard easily by stethoscope. Poor  healing of wound in affected area. 

2.Anti-Brachial Index: PAD is diagnosed by measuring the pressure in leg & arm and then comparing it..

3.Ultrasound: Doppler ultrasound technique is used to see the blood flow to the artery & also it is visualized the blockage arteries. 

4.Angiogram: Its a confirmatory test by which doctors easily diagnose PAD. An dye has been put into your blood stream and then X-ray has been taken out to see the blockage of arteries. 

5-Blood Test: Blood test should be done to find out the risk factors. 

Management & Treatments:

1. Diet:Try to take a healthy diet & maintain a healthy weight. 
2. Monitor Your Health Issues: Check out your existing health issues like  High Blood Pressure, Diabetes & Cholesterol & maintain at the optimum level because all of them are risk factors for PAD. 
3. Physical Exercise: Exercise regularly like 30 to 45 minutes 3 days in a week. Physical activity is the most important tool to make it better.Most of doctors recommend this to their patients.This simply increases the blood flow  to the extremities.
4. Stop Smoking: Smokers have 4 times higher chances to get PAD than non smokers. They have also high chances to get heart disease & stokes easily.  

There are several remedies in the Homoeopathy which are really helpful in PAD. 

1.Arnica Montana: Arnica acts as a blood thinner and it helps in prevention of thrombus formation. 

2.Aurum Metallicum: Aurum Metallicum is one of the great medicine for Peripheral Artery Disease.There is valvular lesion with high blood pressure. Rapid, Feeble & irregular pulse. Patient is  mentally depressed with suicidal tendency. 

3.Baryta Carb: It also very helpful medicine for PAD. Pulse hard & full with rapid pulsation when lying on left side. 

Like this there several other remedies in homoeoopathy, which are very usable in Peripheral Artery Disease. But you should always consult your nearby homoeopathic physician. 

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