How to treat lower limb ischemia depends on how serious your condition is. Treatment for lower limb ischemia often involves treating other health issues and lowering the chance of your symptoms getting worse. Decide with your healthcare provider what will be best for you. In some cases, you may need to be referred to a specialist.

Reviewing your medicines

Your healthcare provider may review the medicines you take to help control your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.

Changing your lifestyle and diet

You can help manage lower limb ischemia by making changes to your lifestyle and eating habits.

• Stop smoking or smoke less. You may find reducing or quitting tobacco products really hard. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about quitting medicine to help you reduce and quit. For more support, visit AlbertaQuits or call the helpline at 1-866-710-7848.
• Increase the time you spend doing moderate physical activity, like brisk walking, swimming, or sweeping floors. You may want to look into supervised exercise programs.
• Eat a variety of healthy foods each day and follow Canada’s food guide.

Watching for changes to your symptoms

With lower limb ischemia, your symptoms can change quickly. An important part of managing your condition is making sure you can recognize new issues or symptoms that get worse.

Your healthcare provider will review things you should watch for, like:

• a rapid change or increase in your pain
• changes in the colour of your foot (usually changing to a pale colour)
• your foot feeling cold all of the time
• difficulty feeling or moving your foot