Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition that affects blood vessels outside the brain and heart. The most common cause of this disease is the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries.
This is a common circulatory issue in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. As a result, the legs don’t get sufficient blood to keep up the movement. While walking, patients experience leg pain that goes away on its own when they rest.
What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?
Peripheral artery disease is similar to coronary artery disease, except that it occurs in the arteries of the body’s peripheral parts, such as the legs, and hands.
Peripheral vascular disease is another name for it. It usually doesn’t cause any symptoms, but it can cause nonspecific ones like walking pain or rashes that go away with a little rest. These peculiarities are called intermittent claudication or constriction.
Uttana vatarakta is the Ayurvedic term for peripheral blood vessel disease. Blockages (avarana) occur when the Kapha and Pitta doshas accumulate in the blood channels, or marga. Vatarakta and its complications result from this effect on circulating vata, known as vegapratibadha. Vatarakta is a disease that affects both Vata and Rakta.
Improper diet and lifestyle aggravate the tridoshas (dominated by Vata) by causing Aam (toxins) to form. This vitiates the blood and makes it thick and heavy in nature due to Aam and kapha, and the vessels become narrow due to the vata vitiation, which reduces the elasticity of the vessel, and kapha and Aam, which settle in the vessels and form cholesterol. With time, there is pressure on the heart to pump blood through these narrow vessels around the body. This results in stiffening or hardening of the artery walls.
What are the warning signs of Peripheral Vascular Disease? (Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease):
- What are the symptoms of a blocked artery in your leg? Excruciating squeezing (hips, thighs, lower leg muscles) in the wake of strolling or climbing steps
- Due to decreased blood flow, muscle pain, weakness, numbness, or cramping. It can also cause moderate to severe claudication—ischemic pain at rest
- Leg numbness
- Feeling of ice in the lower leg
- Ulcers, sores, or wounds that do not heal quickly
- A noticeable shift in temperature (coolness) or color (blueness or paleness) in comparison to the other limb
- Leg and foot pulses are weak
- Erection problems
- Reduced growth of hair and nails on the affected limb
Causes of Peripheral Artery Disease:
The most widely recognized reason for PAD is Atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis causes blood flow impeded by fatty deposits on the artery walls.
PAD can also be caused by:
- Vein aggravation
- Amputation of limbs
- Excessive radiation exposure
- Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption
- Mellitus diabetes
- Dyslipidemia (high low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol)
- Hypertension (High blood pressure is linked to a higher risk of developing PAD)
Risk Factors of Peripheral Artery Disease
The following are risk factors for PAD:
- Smoking
- Elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the blood
- Level of sugar in the blood.
- Particularly after the ages of 50 and 60
- High homocysteine level
- Obese or with a family history of cardiovascular disease, stroke, or obesity.
What are the complications of Peripheral Artery Disease?
The following issues may arise if this condition is not addressed:
- Critical limb ischemia
- Cardiac arrest and stroke
Diagnosis Procedure of Peripheral Artery Disease:
A history of symptoms and a physical examination, followed by confirmatory tests, are required for the diagnosis.
Among these tests are:
- Angiography.
- Brachial-ankle index.
- Ultrasound.
- Imaging with doppler and duplex.
- tomography by computer
- Angiography by magnetic resonance (MRA).
Pathological Representation Peripheral Artery Disease:
What is the best treatment for peripheral artery disease (PAD)?
The Ayurvedic treatment method focuses primarily on boosting blood flow to the extremities and preventing cell damage. Depending on the severity of the condition, the root cause should be addressed. Internal medicines are often combined with external treatments to strengthen the vasculature and boost blood flow.
Ayushakti Treatment Fundamental:
- Balance Doshas (Balance aggravated Vata)
- Aam Elimination (Remove block )
- Cleansing Channels (Blood purification)
- Balance Metabolic Fire (Increase blood circulation)
- Tridosha Alleviation (Regulate tissue metabolism & contraction relaxation of Heart muscles)
- Rasayana (Strengthens tissues)
Also Read: 5 Simple Ways to Maintain Your Heart Health
Detox Therapy (Panchkarma Therapy)
Detox is the Ayurvedic cleansing process for body, mind and emotions that helps you to create holistic health and well-being in your life. Digestive impurities such as mucus and metabolic toxins pile up in the veins, intestine, liver and joints. They circulate throughout the entire body and block the system. Continuous build-up of these impurities can cause physical and mental disorders and disease. A Detox helps to clean out toxins. Marma points help to remove blockages and improve circulation.
Shirodhara and Heartdhara are two of the treatments used in Panchkarma which are especially beneficial for heart health. Shirodhara and Heartdhara are very effective in reducing or lowering high blood pressure.
Type of detox will depend on chronicity and severity of problem.
- Smart detox
- Dynamic detox
- Power detox
- Super detox
It may include Ghrutpan, Virechan, Basti, and Shirodhara for BP and Heart Dhara. (As per condition).
Ayushakti’s detoxification Panchkarma treatments are highly focused on relieving the root cause of any chronic problem by cleansing, repairing and rejuvenating the deeper tissues and cells in your body. Click here to check out our Panchkarma Detoxification Plan
Takeaway:
In conclusion, PAD conditions negatively affect both health and quality of life. Therefore, follow the 100% vegetarian and natural herbal treatment provided by Ayushakti Ayurved to shield the patient from the disease’s harmful effects. As opposed to allopathic medications, they adversely impact the body.
Our Panchkarma Detoxification Plan is specifically designed to bring balance and good health back into your life.
Ayushakti‘s mission is to help people in every possible way. You can consult our experts on phone or video. We will suggest diet & home remedies for maintaining your well-being in these difficult times.
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Author of the Blog: DR RONAK NAIK
Expert Review By: Dr Smita Pankaj Naram
Co-Founder, Ayushakti Ayurved Pvt Ltd