As you begin your treatment for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), one of the first things you need to do is to make some lifestyle changes. These changes will improve your health and possibly reverse the buildup of plaque in your arteries. This can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Initial treatment

One of the single most important treatments for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is to quit smoking. Quitting smoking is difficult, but you do not have to do it on your own. Your doctor can give you medicines such as bupropion (Zyban or Wellbutrin, for example) or varenicline (Chantix), to help you stop craving nicotine. Avoid secondhand smoke too.

There are also products that wean you off nicotine without using tobacco. This is called nicotine replacement therapy, and it helps you gradually stop using nicotine. Products include nicotine patches, gums, nasal sprays, inhalers, and lozenges. These treatments are proven to help people quit smoking for a longer time.¹ For more information, see the topic Quitting Tobacco Use.

Because you have PAD, you have a high risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Your doctor will probably recommend that you follow a heart-healthy diet and increase your physical activity by walking. Even though walking causes you pain, it may be the best exercise you can get. You will need to rest as soon as the pain starts and walk a little farther after it goes away. Make sure you talk to your doctor first, before you start an exercise plan.

For more information on eating well, see:

Eating a heart-healthy diet

You will probably need to take medicines, such as statins, to lower your cholesterol. You may also need to take aspirin or other antiplatelet medicines to help prevent blood clots from forming. If you have high blood pressure, you may need to take medicines to lower it. If you have diabetes, you will need to strictly control your blood sugar levels.

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Ongoing treatment

A major part of treating leg pain from peripheral arterial disease is exercise. Studies show that walking 3 times a week for 3 to 6 months lengthens the distance you can walk before you need to stop because of leg pain.³ Being able to walk farther may mean that you are getting better blood flow to the muscles in your legs. An exercise program that is designed specifically for you may help you the most.

In many people, leg pain eases up after they have followed an exercise program for several months. But, if your leg pain does not get better, your doctor might prescribe a medicine called cilostazol (Pletal). This drug has been shown to help people walk longer before their pain starts, but it may have side effects.¹