Peripheral Artery Disease, or PAD, is caused by blockage in the arteries that slows the supply of blood to the legs.
The arteries carry blood to your muscles and organs and when those arteries are clogged with plaque, it becomes difficult for blood to reach all the areas it needs to reach. PAD is not very well known among the general populace, though health professionals know it to be a painful and dangerous disease.
The most common symptom of PAD is claudication, which is pain in the calves or thighs after you walk just a short distance, usually the pain goes away after having rested for a while. Claudication occurs because not enough blood is flowing to the muscle. During exercise, muscles needs more blood, and because of the restricted arterial blood supply associated with PAD, exercise can be painful.
PAD greatly increases the chances of heart attack or stroke. PAD usually affects those over 70, but can affect younger people, especially if smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol are involved. PAD affects over 12 million people in a year, although most who have the disease have never heard of PAD.
Fighting the Effects of PAD
Knowledge of PAD is the best tool of defense against this disease. A diagnosis can be given following a test that measures the ankle-brachial index. This test is performed using a blood pressure cuff to measure the pulse in the ankle and in the wrist. The two are compared and if the blood pressure in the ankle is lower than in the wrist, there is blockage in the arteries supplying the legs.
By increasing blood flow by removing excessive minerals and heavy metals from the body, liquid chelation therapy can assist in relieving Peripheral Artery Disease symptoms, you should also look at your diet and exercise regime.