MIDLANDS CARES: Peripheral Arterial Disease
COLUMBIA SC (WOLO) – We all understand the importance of the heart, but there are some other afflictions related to the ticker, but present pretty far away. According to MUSC Health Interventional Cardiologist Doctor Andrew Wells, Peripheral Arterial Disease, or PAD, impacts the legs.
According to Doctor Wells, PAD is related to blockages in their legs, similar to your heart. “cholesterol gets deposited in the blood vessels and starts to close down from the inside of the blood vessel,” he explains. He doctor says that people suffering from PAD will have pain in the calf, hips, or buttocks, especially after walking around. Although the pain will subside after sitting down for a few minutes, as it progresses it becomes more painful, and lasts longer. He explains that it tends to show up in older folks, with one in ten adults being impacted. He also points out that in African American men it is more prevalent, to the tune of one in three. People who have had previous heart issues or strokes are also impacted more.
Treatment for PAD generally starts with physical therapy, pointing out that with supervised exercise, often the body can actually heal itself. Statins and other medications are also an option, with the option of a bypass procedure and stints.
If you or a loved one has pain in their legs, it could be more than too many squats on leg day. It could be PAD.
You can contact Doctor Wells HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tyler Ryan is an award winning television and radio personality, weather forecaster, writer, investigative journalist, and professional emcee. He appears daily on ABC Columbia’s Good Morning Columbia, as well as hosting the syndicated radio program Carolina Cares on the South Carolina Radio Network, and the iHeart Radio Network. Tyler also regularly appears as a criminal expert and journalist on regional and national crime based programs like Snapped and Killer Couples. You can contact him directly via EMAIL Or on the socials: Tyler’s Instagram // Tyler’s Facebook
