March 15, 2008
Is there a relationship between the legs and the heart?
by Claudia Dunn, RN, BSN, PHN, YKHC Healthy Hearts Coordinator
If you watch television, listen to the radio or read a magazine chances are you will be exposed to a pharmaceutical commercial on Peripheral Artery Disease known as PAD.
The media tells us approximately eight million Americans suffer from this condition and if you have pain in your legs you could be at risk of a heart attack or stroke. A few commercials fail to tell the public some people with Peripheral Artery Disease have no symptoms. Major points that are frequently missed by the advertisers include a description of PAD, possible symptoms of PAD and preventing PAD risk factors.
According to the American Heart Association Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a condition similar to Coronary (Heart) Artery Disease and Carotid (Vessels which supply the brain with blood) Artery Disease. PAD occurs when plaque (hard cholesterol) builds up on the inner linings of an artery's walls. The blockages prevent adequate blood flow to areas of the body such as kidneys, stomach, arms, legs and feet. People with PAD generally have plaque build up in the arteries that supply the heart and brain. Therefore, PAD sufferers have a higher risk of dying from a Heart Attack or Brain Attack (stroke). Risk factors in developing Peripheral Artery Disease include tobacco usage, lack of exercise, uncontrolled Diabetes, uncontrolled High Blood Pressure and consuming a diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol.
Early symptoms of PAD may include cramping or fatigue in the buttocks or legs when the person is walking or climbing stairs. These symptoms disappear when the person stands still. Severe PAD symptoms include leg pain which does not go away when you stop exercising, foot or toe wounds which heal very slowly or not at all, Gangrene and a marked decrease in temperature of your lower leg or foot compared to the rest of your body. Per the American Heart Association many people dismiss leg pain as a part of getting older, presuming it is arthritis or joint stiffness. People with Diabetes commonly mistake the symptoms for neuropathy or nerve pain.
If you have any of the risk factors or symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease you should ask your health care provider about PAD. The good news is Peripheral Artery Disease can be treated with lifestyle changes, medication or both. If you use tobacco, quit. Ask your Healthcare provider for an exercise plan and follow it. Control your blood pressure. Know your cholesterol level. If your cholesterol level is high, seek treatment. Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables. Consume fish and unsalted nuts. Make sure your diet is low in saturated fats and low in cholesterol. Remember untreated PAD can be dangerous. It can lead to severe pain, loss of a leg and increased risks for a Heart Attack or a Brain Attack.
For more information on quitting tobacco call YKHC Tobacco Cessation and Control Program at (907) 543-6300 or 1-800-478-3321 or the Alaska Quit Line at 1-888-842-QUIT [7848].
Additional information on controlling your Blood Pressure, Exercise and consuming a Healthy Diet low in Saturated Fats can be obtained at Take Heart Alaska at 1-888-465-3140 or www.takeheart.alaska.
Also more information on Peripheral Artery Disease can be obtained from the American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org.