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Dr. Bell Shares: PAD Risk Factors & Steps Patients Can Take

white sock logoIn our last post, we shared some of the facts around Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) in honor of PAD Awareness Month in September. This condition affects millions of Americans and can lead to leg pain and limb amputation, but it isn’t all bad news. Dr. Desmond Bell, Founder and President of “The Save A Leg, Save A Life” Foundation, has some tips for patients who are at risk:

PAD is easily diagnosable and risk factors are largely preventable:

  • Tobacco use
  • Obesity
  • Physical inactivity
  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol levels
  • High blood pressure
  • Atherosclerosis (plaque buildup inside the arteries)

As a patient, what can you do?

  • Have your feet checked at your annual physical exam.
  • Look for symptoms of PAD. Symptoms include muscle cramping in the hips, thighs or calves while walking.
  • Check for physical signs of PAD, including muscle atrophy, hair loss on the legs, smooth shiny skin, skin that is cool, absent pulses in the feet, non-healing ulcers or sores.

Learn more about PAD by reading our previous blog posts.

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