New video explains leg pain in layman’s terms
April 11, 2012 Contact: Sue Crosson-Knutson 312-334-2311
scknutson@vascularsociety.orgCHICAGO - Andres U. Katz, M.D., a vascular surgeon with Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, Presbyterian Hospital of Plano, and Doctors Hospital in Dallas, Texas, is featured in a new broadcast-quality
healthcare video produced by the Society for Vascular Surgery®.
The video explains that intermittent pain or claudication that occurs in the legs after exercise may indicate plaque buildup in the blood vessels known as atherosclerosis. The narrowing of non-heart and brain arteries is known as Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). The condition affects eight to 12 million Americans. Most are over age 50.
“Most often, claudication can be treated with statins, blood thinners, and exercise,” said Dr. Katz. To decrease the risk for PAD, Americans should:
- quit smoking
- maintain a healthy body weight
- control cholesterol
- control diabetes
“Most patients who have problems from arteriosclerosis don’t suffer consequences from the claudication,” said Dr. Katz. “They suffer consequences from heart disease and stroke. A comparison of blood pressure in the upper arm and ankle can indicate a blockage that limits blood flow to the legs.”
In advanced cases, an angioplasty, stent, or bypass surgery may be necessary to re-open the blood vessels.
For more information on
vascular health, log onto
www.VascularWeb.org®.
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About the Society for Vascular Surgery®
The Society for Vascular Surgery® (SVS) is a not-for-profit professional medical society, composed primarily of vascular surgeons, that seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research, and public awareness. SVS is the national advocate for 3,750 specialty-trained vascular surgeons and other medical professionals who are dedicated to the prevention and cure of vascular disease. Visit its Web site at VascularWeb.org®. Follow SVS on Twitter and Facebook.