Do you experience leg pain, cramping or foot ulcers? You may be at risk for a cardiovascular condition called peripheral arterial disease, also known as PAD.
PAD is caused by plaque build-up or blockages in the legs.
Just like clogged arteries in the heart, blocked arteries in the legs keep the organs from receiving oxygen-rich blood, which raises the risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes. One in 20 Americans over the age of 50 have PAD, and though it is a common and treatable disease, it is largely unknown, often unrecognized, and its symptoms are commonly attributed to old age.
Ultimately, PAD can reduce mobility and be fatal if left untreated.
Many people lose limbs each year due to peripheral arterial blockage, but Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) believes that early diagnosis and interventional treatment can prevent disability and save limbs and lives. CIS is world-renowned in the treatment of PAD to restore blood flow and eliminate the need for amputations.
Those at risk for PAD include anyone over the age of 50, especially African Americans; those who smoke or have smoked; and those who have diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol or a personal or family history of vascular disease, heart attack, or stroke.
Symptoms of PAD include:
• open ulcer or wound on the bottom of your foot that does not heal
• pain in the feet or legs that goes away with walking
• severe cramping in your calf after exercising that goes away immediately when stopping
• discoloration of the legs or feet
• numbness or coldness in legs or feet
• pale, shiny skin
If you think you may have PAD, a simple, painless ultrasound at CIS can test the blood flow in your legs to determine your risk.
Dr. Christopher Paris and Nurse Practitioner Amber Lewis provide cardiovascular care at Cardiovascular Institute of the South in Luling. With 16 locations and a team of more than 600 members, CIS is a world-leader in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. The CIS Luling clinic offers a wide range of clinical and diagnostic services including consults, pre-operative evaluations, echocardiographs, cardiac rhythm monitoring, a full vascular lab, carotid and renal artery dopplers, abdominal aortic aneurysm screenings, ankle brachial index exams, stress tests, treadmill tests and more. CIS also treats venous disease and provides minimally-invasive, in-clinic treatments for spider and varicose veins.
For those interested in quitting tobacco, CIS offers a comprehensive tobacco cessation program, Commit To Quit, that offers physician consults, medications, and counseling service—some of which may be free to members of our community.
Additionally, CIS’s partnership with St. Charles Parish Hospital offers a robust, state-of-the-art peripheral arterial disease interventional program to save limbs from amputation. Services in the catheterization laboratory include angioplasty, stent and pacemaker placement, angiograms, atherectomy and more.
CIS’s mission is to offer the latest technology coupled with compassionate care.
With personalized diagnostics and treatment, CIS strives to offer the best possible outcome for each patient.
To schedule an appointment, or to learn more, call (985) 308-1604 or visit www.cardio.com.
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