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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:

● 

Quitting smoking.

● 

Beginning an exercise regimen.

● 

Lowering your cholesterol.

● 

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