By Daniel Ratliff, DO As a cardiologist, I focus on prevention and treatment of heart disease. However, I am often reminded when I see patients that cardiovascular health involves more than just treating the heart: It involves treating the blood flow of the entire body, from head to toe. Typically people’s attention centers on symptoms of the chest and chest pain. However, there are clues that if spotted early, may allow us to detect cardiovascular disease early. Symptoms including chronic leg pain, foot and ankle wounds that do not heal, are often a caused by the same underlying problem that causes heart attacks and strokes: atherosclerosis, or “hardening of the arteries.” Atherosclerosis is by far the most common cause of heart disease,
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Many studies have correlated PAD (even asymptomatic PAD) with higher cardiac mortality and coronary artery disease. Therefore, knowing and looking for PAD can help patients and doctors find heart disease, and treat it before its devastating manifestations …show more content…
Roughly 10 million Americans (12 -20% of seniors) are affected by PAD, and that numbers is growing. Symptoms I usually ask about are legs that are cool to touch, hair loss on the legs and feet, different colors of skin on the legs, and sores or wounds that do not heal. As PAD progresses, some people may experience pain at night or even constant pain at rest. It is important to ask your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms, as a physician in the office can simply and easily diagnose PAD. Checking blood pressures in the arms and legs (known as the ankle brachial index or “ABI”) is an easy, painless and highly effective way to diagnose PAD. Treatment involves prevention, medications, and in later stages angioplasty, possibly even surgery. It is important to prevent disease progression, by quitting smoking (if the patient is a smoker), managing hypertension, treating diabetes and lowering high cholesterol. Exercise as well is extremely important, countless studies have proven benefits not only to patients’ heart health but also their overall health too. In patients with PAD, exercise alone often drastically improves symptoms and alleviates the need for invasive procedures such as angioplasty or even
Many studies have correlated PAD (even asymptomatic PAD) with higher cardiac mortality and coronary artery disease. Therefore, knowing and looking for PAD can help patients and doctors find heart disease, and treat it before its devastating manifestations …show more content…
Roughly 10 million Americans (12 -20% of seniors) are affected by PAD, and that numbers is growing. Symptoms I usually ask about are legs that are cool to touch, hair loss on the legs and feet, different colors of skin on the legs, and sores or wounds that do not heal. As PAD progresses, some people may experience pain at night or even constant pain at rest. It is important to ask your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms, as a physician in the office can simply and easily diagnose PAD. Checking blood pressures in the arms and legs (known as the ankle brachial index or “ABI”) is an easy, painless and highly effective way to diagnose PAD. Treatment involves prevention, medications, and in later stages angioplasty, possibly even surgery. It is important to prevent disease progression, by quitting smoking (if the patient is a smoker), managing hypertension, treating diabetes and lowering high cholesterol. Exercise as well is extremely important, countless studies have proven benefits not only to patients’ heart health but also their overall health too. In patients with PAD, exercise alone often drastically improves symptoms and alleviates the need for invasive procedures such as angioplasty or even