Zanesville Vascular Surgery and Intervention

May 1 2008

Baby boomers and seniors can take steps to reduce their chances of having a stroke, the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Strokes occur in 700,000 Americans each year, with nearly 157,000 dying annually from this disorder. In addition, stroke is the leading cause of permanent disability in older people. May is Stroke Awareness Month, and people need to know that taking care of your vascular health, early detection, and effective treatments can reduce the likelihood of suffering a stroke.

One of the most important and preventable causes of strokes is carotid artery disease, a condition that leads to a narrowing of the passageway of the arteries in the neck and causes them to become stiff and obstructed. Carotid artery disease results when the carotid arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your brain become too narrow or obstructed and limit the blood flow to the brain.

 

Patients approaching 55 years-of-age and older, are encouraged to discuss how to control the following risk factors for carotid artery disease with their primary care physician:

 

• Maintain healthy blood pressure
• Stop smoking
• Control diabetes
• Manage cholesterol levels
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise regularly

 

In addition to these health tips those, particularly with a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, high cholesterol, or known cardiovascular disease, should ask their primary care physician to test for carotid artery disease.

 

The warning signs of stroke can be misunderstood. People experiencing a stroke have these warning signs:

 

• Weakness, numbness, or tingling on one side of the body
• Inability to control movement of a body part
• Loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes
• Inability to speak clearly
• Difficulty talking or comprehending what others are saying
• Dizziness or confusion

 

Typically with age, the carotid arteries build up plaque, a sticky substance made up mostly of fat and cholesterol. Strokes result from either obstruction of blood flow to the brain by the plaque; sudden clotting off of the carotid artery; or when bits of plaque and clots break off from the plaque and flow to the brain. According to the American Stroke Association, someone in the

U.S.

has a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies every 3 minutes.

 

If you have evidence of carotid artery disease, see a vascular surgeon who has the expertise to give the best diagnosis and treat with noninvasive procedures and other treatments.  To learn more about your vascular health, carotid artery disease, and other vascular diseases, visit www.zanesvillevascular.net, or call 740-455-4944 for a free brochure on carotid artery disease.

 

September 1 2008

It isn’t only accidents and wars that result in amputations; peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can lead to loss of a leg. The disease affects more than 8 million people in the

U.S.

, especially those over 50, African Americans, and Hispanics are at risk. It is estimated that one of every 20 Americans over the age of 50 has PAD. Baby boomers approaching the age of 50 need to be aware of their vascular health and the associated diseases, including PAD.

 

Most people are unaware of the disease called PAD. It is particularly difficult to know when you have PAD because normally there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. As the disease develops, those affected may experience discomfort or pain in their legs when they walk, but no pain when they rest. Because of the lack of symptoms, it is very important that people aged 50 and over talk with their primary care physician about PAD and ask for an examination if they:

 

• Are 50-years-old or older, particularly males
• Experience hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Have diabetes
• Smoke
• Have high cholesterol
• Are obese
• Do not exercise
• Have a family history of vascular problems

 

Healthy peripheral arteries are smooth and unobstructed, allowing blood to flow freely to the legs and provide oxygen, glucose, and other nutrients to legs. Typically with age, the peripheral arteries build up plague, a sticky substance made up mostly of fat and cholesterol. Plaque narrows the passageway within the arteries and causes them to become stiff.

 

PAD results when the peripheral arteries become too narrow or obstructed and limit the blood flow to the legs. If left untreated, PAD can cause pain or aching in the legs, difficulty with walking, resting pain in the foot at night in bed, non-healing sores or infections in the toes or feet, and can lead to limb loss in its most severe form.

 

In addition these serious arterial conditions, those with PAD should understand that people with the disease may be more likely to suffer heart attacks and stroke. The diagnosis of PAD can be established, and its severity confirmed by a simple, noninvasive Doppler examination. (Include information about a vascular screening event if you are holding one.) Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment options may include lifestyle changes, medications, minimally invasive angioplasty/stenting, or open bypass surgery.

 

If you have evidence of PAD, see a vascular surgeon who has the expertise to give the best diagnosis and treat with all noninvasive and other procedures. (Either use your website and contact information the SVS information.)  To learn more about your vascular health, PAD, and other vascular diseases, visit www.zanesvillevascular.net, or call 740-455-4944 for a free brochure on PAD.