Paying Attention to PAD
February is American Heart Month, and we know that a heart check can often start with a foot check. Have you ever heard of a condition commonly referred to as PAD? It stands for peripheral arterial disease, and it most commonly affects a patient’s arms and legs. To learn more about the cause and ways to prevent this disease, we’re raising awareness this month. Do you have this disease? If not, would you know how to spot the signs?
PAD can affect men and women. However, there are risk factors. Let’s do a quick check-in:
Are you over the age of 60?
Do you have diabetes?
Is your cholesterol high?
Are you a smoker?
Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure?
The above checklist includes factors that can make you a likely candidate for the disease. However, there are ways to prevent PAD, too. It’s not too late to make a lifestyle change.
At PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center, we value prevention. It’s just one of the many ways we care for our patients.
What causes the disease?
When our blood vessels become narrow or blocked, this impacts blood flow from the heart to other parts of the body, including our legs. The risk factors listed above often contribute to the blockage.
Are there symptoms?
Yes. PAD can impact other parts of the body, but the arms and legs are most common. As podiatrists, we’ll share how it can impact your feet. For many patients, they will share about pain in their legs. Other people may not have pain. Additional signs can include muscle weakness or atrophy, smooth or shiny skin, cold or numb toes, and non-healing wounds. We encourage you to share any changes you notice with your feet.
What can I do now?
There are ways to prevent the disease. One of the first ways is by taking control of your health. Manage your diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Add more physical activity to your day. Most importantly, stop smoking. Connect with helpful resources and a support system to make a change.
We’re here for you. Let’s talk today.
Our board-certified team of foot and ankle doctors at PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center has experience with addressing foot needs, including bunions and hammertoes, pediatric foot care, custom orthotics, heel pain, diabetic foot care, and more. The team includes Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, and Dr. Laura Vander Poel. We have two locations in Hartford County: 1379 Enfield Street, Enfield, CT, and 1350 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, CT. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.