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PER I PHERAL ARTER IAL DI SEASE
Get a leguponbetterbloodflow
WHEN YOU WALK,
do your legs protest? If they seem to
tire out or cramp during physical activity, your muscles
might not be getting the oxygen they need.
“Fatigue and pain in the legs during exercise can be
symptoms of a condition called peripheral arterial dis-
ease, or PAD,” says Edward Samourjian, MD, vascular
surgeon at Glendale Adventist Medical Center (GAMC).
“Older adults, smokers and people with diabetes have an
increased risk of this condition.”
PAD is a serious disorder that can affect major arteries
throughout your entire body. Fortunately, it can be eas-
ily diagnosed by your physician in the office with a few
simple tests.
OXYGEN-DEPRIVED MUSCLES
Fatty deposits can build
up in the walls of your arteries and restrict the circulation
of blood and oxygen to the muscles in your legs, making
it difficult to walk.
“When fatty deposits occur in arteries leading to
your heart, it’s called coronary artery disease,” says
Dr. Samourjian. “When it occurs in the arteries that lead
to your leg, it’s referred to as PAD.”
When you exercise, your muscles need more blood and
oxygen. Leg pain that occurs during walking and disap-
pears with rest is the most common symptom of PAD. It’s
a sign that your leg muscles aren’t getting enough blood
and oxygen to meet their needs to give you the strength
to walk comfortably.
Other symptoms of PAD include coldness, numbness or
tingling and changes in skin color in the lower legs or feet.
If left untreated, severe forms of PAD can potentially lead
to gangrene or am-
putation. People with
PAD are also likely to
have narrowed arteries
elsewhere, including
the coronary arteries
feeding the heart, rais-
ing the risk for heart
attack.
WHERE YOU STAND
“A simple physical
examination performed by your physician, as well as
an ankle-brachial index test, which compares the blood
pressure in your legs with that in your arms, can clearly
identify anyone suffering from PAD,” Dr. Samourjian says.
Even if you have mild symptoms, it’s a good idea to ask
your doctor about PAD.
According to the Society for Vascular Surgery, nearly
8 to 12 million people in the United States are affected by
PAD, with women appearing more likely than men to have
the condition at a younger age. PAD is expected to increase
as the population ages, cigarette smoking persists, and
diabetes mellitus, hypertension and obesity grow.
If testing does indicate PAD, it can often be treated with
lifestyle changes such as:
●
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Quitting smoking.
●
●
Beginning an exercise regimen.
●
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Lowering your cholesterol.
●
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Controlling diabetes and high blood pressure.
Your doctor may also prescribe medication to help re-
duce blood clotting and lower cholesterol. In some cases,
angioplasty (with or without stenting) or surgery is needed to
treat blocked arteries depending on severity of the disease.
Source: Society for Vascular Surgery
Welcome
home!
How to help a loved one
recover from a stroke
SOMEONE VERY DEAR
to you is coming
home after surviving a stroke. There may
have been times you weren’t sure this day
would come. Now that it’s here, your happy
anticipation might be tinged with a bit of
anxiety.
That’s to be expected. According to the
American Stroke Association (ASA), many
people who find themselves caring for a loved
one after a stroke come to the job with no
prior experience.
Here are some tips from the ASA to help
you and the person you’re caring for navigate
this recovery period.
Get answers.
Do you know what each
medication is for? Should your home be modi-
fied to accommodate your loved one? Don’t
be afraid to ask for clarification on any issue.
Write down questions as you think of them.
Reduce risks.
Find out how you can help
prevent a second stroke. This may include pre-
paring healthy meals and making sure your
loved one gets to all follow-up medical visits.
Be alert to changes.
Monitor progress
and let your doctor know if you see any
changes in the person’s abilities, behavior or
attitude. Remember that depression is com-
mon after a stroke and is best treated early.
Stay positive and be patient.
No two
people recover from a stroke the same way.
Improvements may take months.
Ask for help when you need it.
You
can’t take care of someone else unless you
take care of yourself.
For a referral to a GAMC neurologist, call
(818) 409-8100
.
If you are experiencing
symptoms of peripheral arterial disease,
call (818) 409-8100 for a physician referral.
STAYING WELL
T O F I N D A D O C T O R , C A L L
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Edward Samourjian, MD