If you are at risk of having high cholesterol, there are many issues that may affect you and your ability to function normally. One severe problem that you might deal with is rest pain, which is also known as Critical Limb Ischemia. Rest pain is when you experience a constant and severe burning pain in your lower legs, feet, or toes. Pain can become worse when you’re lying down and it can affect your ability to live comfortably and without severe pain. It’s important to understand what could cause rest pain and how it can be treated.
What is Rest Pain?
Rest pain is a severe case of claudication, which is when the arteries in your legs are damaged or blocked. This often happens because of a buildup of cholesterol plaque but can have other causes. There are risk factors that can increase your chances of dealing with rest pain. Some of these risk factor include:
- Age
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Family history
- High cholesterol
The best way to avoid dealing with rest pain is by decreasing your risk factors and making sure that you have a healthy diet and active lifestyle. If this pain goes untreated, it can become severe and you might start experiencing paralysis or gangrene.
Treating Rest Pain
You may need medication to help prevent the disease from progressing. These medications will address your risk factors and make sure they aren’t contributing to your rest pain. You may also need an angioplasty to help open up any blockages in your arteries.
Contact Your Doctor Today
Letting rest pain go untreated could lead to severe issues and could mean amputation. Contact your doctor at Pennsylvania Vascular Institute in King of Prussia, Philadelphia, Bethlehem, and East Stroudsburg, PA, for more information today at (800)296-9294.