Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, usually the legs. This can cause symptoms such as leg pain when walking (claudication). PAD is often a sign of atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, reducing blood flow not only to the limbs but also to the heart and brain.
Symptoms
- Claudication: Pain or cramping in the legs or arms that occurs during physical activity and disappears after a few minutes of rest. The location of the pain depends on the location of the clogged or narrowed artery.
- Numbness or weakness: In the legs.
- Coldness: In the lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other leg.
- Sores: On the toes, feet, or legs that won’t heal.
- Change in color: Of the legs.
- Hair loss: Or slower hair growth on the feet and legs.
- Slower growth of toenails.
- Shiny skin: On the legs.
- No pulse: Or a weak pulse in the legs or feet.
- Erectile dysfunction: Especially in men with diabetes.
Risk Factors
- Smoking: The most significant risk factor for PAD.
- Diabetes.
- Obesity: (Body Mass Index over 30).
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol.
- Increasing age: Especially after age 50.
- Family history: Of PAD, heart disease, or stroke.
- High levels of homocysteine: An amino acid that helps your body make protein and to build and maintain tissue.
Diagnosis
- Physical Exam: Checking for weak pulses in the legs.
- Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI): A comparison of the blood pressure in the ankle with the blood pressure in the arm.
- Ultrasound: To view blood flow in the arteries.
- Angiography: Using a dye and imaging techniques to view the flow of blood through the arteries.
- Blood Tests: To check for underlying conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol.
Homoepathy Treatment
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine that involves the use of highly diluted substances to stimulate the body’s self-healing mechanisms.Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine that involves the use of highly diluted substances to stimulate the body’s self-healing mechanisms.
Common Homeopathic Remedies for PAD
- Arnica Montana: Often used for its anti-inflammatory properties and to improve circulation, which may help with the pain and inflammation associated with PAD.
- Calcarea Fluorica: Sometimes recommended for strengthening the walls of the blood vessels and improving elasticity, which can be beneficial in conditions involving hardening of the arteries.
- Secale Cornutum: May be used in cases of severe circulation issues, particularly when there is a sensation of coldness in the extremities and when there are cramps or spasms.
- Carbo Vegetabilis: Often suggested for patients who experience severe fatigue, coldness in the legs, and poor oxygenation of tissues.
- Lachesis: Used for improving circulation, especially in cases where there is marked congestion and bluish discoloration of the skin.
- Tabacum: Sometimes used for severe cases of coldness and numbness in the limbs, particularly when there is also a feeling of weakness and exhaustion
