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It’s a Matter of Life and Limb
You think it’s just a normal part of aging
– like the fine lines that slowly appear around your eyes or the nagging
back aches agitated by something as simple as bending over to pick up a
pen. You take your dog for a short walk – and sure he’s pulling the leash
a little more than usual, but the pain in your legs is begging you to
stop. So you do – a short rest on the park bench makes everything feel
better. Maybe it is just a normal part of aging. But you’ve noticed some
other things that don’t seem quite right. There’s that strange tingling in
your legs, and what about all of those times your feet feel completely
numb lately. And now you’ve got those sores on your heals that just won’t
go away.
For people 50 and better, all of these
signs can mean so much more than the normal course of aging – they all
could be indications of Peripheral Arterial Disease or PAD – a common
condition that, according to the Society of Interventional Radiology,
affects 10 million Americans.
“Peripheral Arterial Disease, also known as
peripheral vascular disease (PVD), is a serious condition,” explains Dr.
Joseph Mullaney, an interventional radiologist who serves as chief of
staff at Trident Medical Center. “The clogged arteries cause decreased
blood flow to the legs, which can result in pain when walking, and
eventually can lead to gangrene and possibly amputation of the limb. An
even greater concern is that people with PAD are likely to have blocked
arteries in other areas of the body, and therefore be more likely to be at
risk for heart disease, aortic aneurysms and stroke.” The presence of PAD
may also be an indication that a person suffers from diabetes,
hypertension and other serious medical conditions.
Because so many people dismiss their leg
pains as simple signs of aging, they forego seeing their physician about
their symptoms and the problem worsens. “We want to educate the community
about the risks and signs of Peripheral Arterial Disease,” explains
Trident Health System’s Assistant Vice President of Heart and Vascular
Services, Allison Walters. “With this goal in mind and as a part of our
Heartcaring Program, Trident Health System is offering a free PAD
screening at Trident Surgery Center on Saturday, September 15 from 8:00
a.m. until noon. We’re hoping people will take advantage of this free
opportunity to catch a potentially serious problem before it’s too late.”
Walters explains that there are several
risk factors for PAD. “When calling Trident HealthFinders to register,
people will be asked a few questions to determine if they are indeed at
risk and a candidate for this free screening.” The risk factors include:
Smoking; high blood pressure; high cholesterol; diabetes; family history
of heart or vascular disease; being overweight; lack of exercise or
physical activity and being more than 50 years old.
“The PAD screening – called an ABI or
ankle-brachial index --can accurately detect PAD in most cases, and
because it only takes a few minutes and is completely painless, there
really isn’t any reason someone who thinks they may be affected shouldn’t
participate in our free screening on September 15. After all, a quick
phone call to 797-FIND and a few minutes of your time, can add years to
your life.”
“Early detection of peripheral arterial
disease is extremely important,” warns Dr. Mullaney. “When PAD is
diagnosed, successful treatments can be provided to improve circulation
and significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. These
treatments don’t necessarily have to include surgery. In fact, the
findings of the Society of Interventional Radiology have proven that
interventional treatment should be considered the first-line therapy for
all patients with peripheral arterial disease.”
So don’t ignore that pain that is keeping
you from enjoying your morning walks – it could be more than just aging –
it could be a matter of life and limb. |
