It’s A Matter of Life and Limb

THS

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.  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.

“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.

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