The most common cause of peripheral vascular disease is peripheral artery disease (PAD). This common condition that can sharply curtail your ability to comfortably partake in physical activity.
- Peripheral artery disease is due to atherosclerosis. This is a gradual process in which a fatty material builds up inside the arteries.
- The fatty material mixes with calcium, scar tissues, and other substances and hardens slightly, forming plaques of arteriosclerosis.
- These plaques block, narrow, or weaken the vessel walls.
- Blood flow through the arteries can be restricted or blocked totally.
The most common symptom of peripheral vascular disease in the legs is pain in one or both calves, thighs, or hips. The pain usually occurs while you are walking or climbing stairs and stops when you rest. This is because the muscles’ demand for blood increases during walking and other exercise. The narrowed or blocked arteries cannot supply more blood, so the muscles are deprived of oxygen and other nutrients. It’s usually a dull, cramping, intermittent pain.
There are many ways to help prevent peripheral vascular disease including healthy eating, exercise, not smoking, controlling high blood pressure, and lowering high cholesterol. EDTA Chelation therapy can also help reduce your risk of developing peripheral vascular disease. EDTA chelation increases blood flow through the removal of mineral deposits and heavy metals in your body. If you already suffer from PAD, you should know that a safe and effective chelation therapy, coupled with diet and exercise could go a long way in lessening the severity of your symptoms, or possibly even alleviate them altogether. This should allow you to return to or begin an appropriate level of regular physical activity.