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Are you suddenly developing leg cramping and pain that makes walking and other physical activities difficult? It could result from a buildup of fatty deposits in your arteries that narrow them, thus reducing blood flow. Reduced blood flow from these narrowed arteries causes a condition known as peripheral arterial disease Coconut Creek. In PAD, your legs will fail to receive proper blood flow, thus unable to keep up with the demand, which then causes leg pain. During your appointment with your doctor, they may recommend the following practices to help prevent possible complications with PAD.

Quit Smoking

Smoking ranks you high on the list of those at increased risk of developing PAD. You are more likely to develop PAD as a smoker than a non-smoker. Smoking also damages the arteries by creating spots that encourage cholesterol to stick to your arterial walls. Also, toxic chemicals from cigarette smoking may increase your blood pressure, thus raising the amount of bad cholesterol in your arteries. Therefore, it would help if you stopped smoking to lower your risk of PAD, and if you already have the condition, smoking even one cigarette may interfere with your treatment.

Eat Healthily and Watch Your Calorie Intake

You will likely have high cholesterol levels if you already have PAD. Therefore, you require a healthy diet to give your body all the necessary nutrients. A low trans-fat diet will reduce cholesterol levels and help prevent the development of chronic conditions that may increase your risk for PAD. You can include high fiber, potassium, calcium, and protein while reducing saturated fats, salt, and sweets. Additionally, eat many vegetables, whole grains and fruits, and protein from beans, fish, and low-fat dairy products.

Lose Weight

Your risk for PAD increases as your weight increases. You may develop critical leg ischemia when your arteries block severely from PAD. A little practice at losing weight can go a long way in improving blood flow around your legs, thus lowering your risk for PAD. However, losing weight may be hard if you have leg pain, but your doctor will help you practice weight loss through programs and a physical therapist.

Perform Regular Exercise

Engaging in physical activity relates to many health benefits that can lower the risk for PAD. You can perform regular exercise to improve the health of blood vessels, lower cholesterol, and blood pressure, and support weight loss. Your doctor may recommend exercise if you already have PAD to prevent worsening symptoms.

Foot Care

If you already have PAD and diabetes, you may need to care for your feet properly to prevent poor healing of injuries and sores. Therefore, wash your feet daily, and moisturize them to prevent cracks. Wear well-fitting shoes and use dry socks. Additionally, check your feet for injuries, and treat any infections as soon as they occur.

Peripheral arterial disease usually results from a buildup of fatty deposits in the arterial walls, which then causes reduced blood flow through the arteries. While you may experience mild to no symptoms, there are cases when the pain may be severe and cause difficulty during walking. Therefore, it will be necessary to practice lifestyle habits that can reduce pain and lower the risk of complications. You may have to quit smoking, lose weight if you are overweight, and watch your calorie consumption.