Hawthornesc.com

January 2011/Ed. 1
When Linda Molnar developed pain in her legs that got worse when she walked even a short distance, doctors initially attributed it to an old back injury. But three years and many doctor visits later, a vascular specialist finally gave her the correct diagnosis last fall: peripheral artery disease.
you feel productive, wheth-er or not you get paid for Often referred to as poor circulation, peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is a po- tentially fatal blockage of large arteries in the legs caused by the same kind of fatty deposits or plaque that can build up in the coronary arteries leading to the heart. Between eight and 12 million Americans have PAD, federal data show. By some estimates, those ranks could double in the next decade as the population ages and as diabetes and obesity—major risk factors—become more prevalent.
PAD has serious consequences. Patients have rates of heart attack, stroke and death equal or greater to those with coronary disease alone. A study of 68,000 patients in an international registry shows patients with PAD have a 21% chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke, being hospitalized or dying of complica- tions within one year. That risk doubles for those who also have artery disease in the heart. PAD and coronary heart disease often go hand-in-hand: As many as funny movie, take a walk on the beach, listen to music, Several groups are lobbying the federal government to make a screening test for PAD more widely available. The test, known as the ankle-brachial-index, or ABI, can identify peripheral artery disease by measuring blood pressure in the legs. It is relatively inexpensive, ranging from about $60 to $117. Medicare will cover it only for patients who already show symptoms of PAD. The Peripheral Artery Disease Coalition of more than 50 organizations endorses ABI screening, and is lobbying the federal Preventive Services Task Force to review the test with the aim of getting it covered more widely by Medicare.
Private insurance policies vary, and some doctors may perform the test as part of a physical examination. About 10% of PAD patients have a severe form of leg pain, known as claudication. Caused by inadequate blood flow, it typically oc- curs while walking or climbing stairs and stops at rest. Half of patients may have other leg symptoms such as heaviness, fatigue and cramps.
ice skating. Play a game of tag. Ride your bike. Take “If people come in and say my chest hurts, that gets attention, but if they say my leg hurts when I walk a couple of blocks, most doctors don’t think that is a big deal,” says William Hiatt, professor of cardiovascular research at the Uni- versity of Colorado School of Medicine and chairman of the American Heart Association’s Peripheral Vascular Disease Council.
It burns calories, reduces stress and makes you feel The first line of treatment for PAD is daily exercise and a healthy diet. Medica- tions are also often used, including a statin to lower cholesterol, blood thinners, blood-pressure medications and a drug called Pletal that helps expand arteries and relieve leg pain.
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