Medical Treatment for Poor Circulation

Poor circulation can lead to many complications including pain in the extremities, heart attack and stroke. The most common cause is plaque buildup. This problem marks peripheral artery disease or peripheral vascular disease. You can treat this problem medically but certain lifestyle choices factor in as well.

Determining Treatment

• According to eMedicine Health, a consumer health information site, treatment depends on the underlying cause of your condition as well as other individual factors.

Goal of Treatment

• Treatment works to address symptoms of the condition---most commonly leg pain called intermittent claudication, and to reduce buildup on the artery walls that interferes with normal circulation, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Medication

• Medications to address peripheral artery disease include those that target high cholesterol, lower blood pressure, manage blood sugar, prevent blood clots and relieve symptoms of intermittent claudication.

Procedures

• Procedures to address peripheral artery disease include an angioplasty (inflating a balloon in the artery to widen it), inserting a stent to keep an artery open, atherectomy (removing plaque from the artery wall), and surgery to redirect blood flow from damaged veins to healthier ones. According to eMedicine Health, surgery is rare and reserved for severe case that do not respond to other treatments.

Self-care

• Self-care plays a very important role in managing this condition. You can achieve optimal artery health by quitting smoking, monitoring your cholesterol intake and exercising regularly, according to the Mayo Clinic.