Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- September is Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness month.
Peripheral artery disease affects as many as 12 million people in the United States, and increases in prevalence with age.
One in every eight Americans older than 60 years of age have PAD but only 25% of the general population is aware of the disease, which is why HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital’s Wound Healing Center wants to educate the community on this critical health issue.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) develops when arteries become completely or partially blocked with plaque deposits that limit blood flow to legs.
Just like clogged arteries in the heart, clogged arteries in the legs increase the risk of heart attack, stroke or even death.
Atherosclerosis (plaque buildup) in the legs does not always cause symptoms so many people can have PAD and not know it.
People who do experience symptoms, such as pain or cramping in the legs, often do not report them, believing they are a natural part of aging or due to another cause.
Common risk factors include high cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, inactivity, atherosclerosis and age.
As many as six million people with diabetes are affected by PAD, making it one of the primary co-morbidities of diabetes.
Chronic toe and foot sores are common in people with PAD, as are cramping, numbness, weakness or heaviness in the leg muscles.
Those who have any of the risk factors for PAD should ask their health care professional about PAD.
A physician can check for signs of the disease with a simple test of pulses in the feet.
“While some with PAD do not experience symptoms, people should be aware of certain factors that put them more at risk,” said Dr. Jeff Brummer, medical director of HSHS St. Anthony’s Wound Healing Center. “Smokers are four times at greater risk, African Americans are more than twice as likely to have PAD, and one in every three people over the age of 50 with diabetes is likely to have the disease.”
HSHS St. Anthony’s Wound Healing Center recommends the following action steps to help manage PAD:
- Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, correcting blood pressure and cholesterol numbers.
- Develop healthy eating habits and an exercise plan.
- Exercising can help increase the circulation and reduce pain in the lower extremities. Walking, hiking and bike riding are good exercise options. A personal trainer can help tailor a custom workout plan that best fits a person’s needs.
- Medications – Always consult with a physician about which medications may help PAD and if they are needed.
- Special procedures and surgeries – In some severe cases of PAD, surgery may be needed to open arteries that have narrowed. Consult with a physician to see if surgery is a necessary treatment.
- Regular foot exams can identify any open sores early.
For those experiencing symptoms but not certain if they have peripheral arterial disease, Prairie Heart Institute at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital can test for PAD.
Talk with your doctor about your symptoms and ordering a test for PAD at the Prairie Heart Institute at St. Anthony’s.
For more information about PAD and treating chronic wounds, contact HSHS St. Anthony’s Wound Healing Center at 217-347-3565.
The HSHS St. Anthony’s Wound Healing Center has been caring for chronic wounds since January 2010.
The Center has been recognized as a Center of Excellence by Healogics every year.
Through the center’s advanced wound healing methods and highly trained providers and clinicians, over 90% of their patients have been healed annually.
One of their specialized treatments for specific conditions is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
For more information on St. Anthony’s Wound Healing Center, visit the hospital’s web site at stanthonyshospital.org.
HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is part of the Southern Illinois Division of Hospital Sisters Health System, which also includes HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland.
