September is National Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month, and prevention is the name of the game.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common circulatory problem marked by narrowed arteries, which restrict blood flow to your limbs. The most common symptom is claudication, which refers to leg pain when walking.
Peripheral artery disease is likely to be a sign of a more widespread accumulation of fatty deposits in your arteries (atherosclerosis). This condition may reduce blood flow to your heart and brain, as well as your legs.
Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease
In addition to claudication, peripheral artery disease symptoms can include:
• Leg numbness or weakness
• Cool leg or foot, especially when compared with the other side
• Sores on your feet or legs that fail to heal
• A weak or no pulse in your feet or legs
• A change in the color of your legs
• Hair loss or slower hair growth on your feet and legs
• Slower growth of your toenails
• Erectile dysfunction in men
If peripheral artery disease progresses, pain may occur more frequently, even when you are not physically active.
Risk Factors
Risk factors that can increase your risk of developing peripheral artery disease include:
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Obesity (a body mass index over 30)
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Advancing age, especially beyond 50
• A family history of heart disease, stroke or peripheral artery disease
How to Prevent Peripheral Artery Disease
The best way to prevent claudication is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including any or all of the following:
• Consume foods that are low in saturated fat
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise regularly for at least 30-45 minutes per day
• Quit smoking
• Keep your blood sugar under control
• Lower your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, if applicable
When Should You See a Doctor?
If you suffer from leg pain, numbness or other symptoms, don't ignore them and assume they are just a function of getting older. Even if you don't have any symptoms, you should make a point of being screened if you are over 65 or have any risk factors.
Do you have a heart condition? Get your heart checked by one of our experienced and caring physicians by booking an appointment today with North Suffolk Cardiology, call (631) 941-2000.