PAD Preventaion

Learn your family medical history. A patient’s family medical history can greatly increase (or decrease) the risk of the patient developing certain medical conditions, including PAD.

Eat a heart-healthy diet. While certain vitamins and minerals have been shown to be helpful to heart health, fats and oils such as saturated fat and tropical oils (palm and coconut oil) have been shown to be particularly harmful, because they can speed up the development of PAD, atherosclerosis, and obesity.

Improve cholesterol level. A person's total cholesterol ratio (which includes LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides) should be no more than 200 milligrams per deciliter and no more than five times the HDL level. Key strategies to improve cholesterol ratios include a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, limited alcohol use, and prescription cholesterol-reducing drugs (if needed).

Have blood tested. Researchers recently identified factors found in blood that can help to predict an individual's risk of developing PAD. The factors include the ratio between total blood cholesterol and HDL cholesterol and C-reactive protein levels.

Control homocysteine levels. High homocysteine levels have been linked to damage of the arteries, which can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular problems. Homocysteine can be kept at moderate, healthy levels if the body has adequate levels of three important B-vitamins: vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, and folic acid.

Exercise regularly. Exercise can be an excellent tool in the prevention of heart disease. Physically, it can slow or even reverse the process of atherosclerosis, as well as lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels (consult with your physician before beginning any exercise program).

Control diabetes. Persons with diabetes are more likely to develop heart-related diseases. Preventative care iscrucial to the overall health and heart function of diabetic patients.

Control high blood pressure (hypertension). Individuals with high blood pressure are at greater risk of developing vascular problems. Hypertension can be controlled through blood pressure-lowering medications, self-monitoring, eating a heart-healthy and low-salt diet, and engaging in regular exercise.

Control weight. Obesity and being overweight are major risk factors for a host of serious health conditions, including PAD, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, and stroke.

Manage stress. Stress may be a direct contributor to poor heart health because it produces increases in blood pressure that could become permanent.

Quit smoking (or don’t start to smoke). Tobacco smoking is a major cause of PAD and stroke. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows heart disease as the leading smoking-related cause of death in the United States among men and women.

Control chronic depression. Depression has been linked with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, and having a heart attack.