20 The QUEE NS Courier • health • october 2, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ▶health After experiencing a long period of pain and cramping in his legs, a 61-year-old man working as a machine operator in a factory outside of Tulsa, Okla., was diagnosed with peripheral artery disease, or PAD, a condition that occurs when deposits of fat and cholesterol, known as plaque, build up and cause the arteries of the legs to narrow.i This pain and cramping mirrored the primary symptoms of PAD, which made even the simplest movements such as walking difficult.ii The man’s job required him to be on his feet, and due to his PAD he saw his job, livelihood and health being put at-risk. Further, he was struggling with obesity and was desperate to relieve the pain so he could exercise and get to a healthier weight. Fortunately for this man and others facing a PAD diagnosis, innovative treatment options are becoming increasingly available to help people combat the disease. Upon receiving his diagnosis, the factory worker consulted Dr. Anderson Mehrle, a local cardiologist who walked him through his treatment options and worked with him to determine the best path to restoring his health. Dr. Mehrle offered the patient a solution that helped ease the pain in his leg so he could work more comfortably and even resume walks to help him lose weight and restore his health. A stent was inserted into the blocked artery in the man’s thigh, pushing plaque buildup against the artery wall and successfully restoring blood flow. “Treatment helped the patient achieve a more active lifestyle than may have been possible if his PAD had continued, by alleviating the pain that comes along with PAD,” Mehrle says. Since the stent treatment, the man has become more active and reports to Dr. Mehrle that he’s been able to take greater control over his health. “The stent treatment enabled him to be more active and may have helped him avoid a number of potential complications that sometimes result from PAD, such as heart disease, not to mention heart attack and stroke. By opening the blocked artery, we may have reinvigorated him to take control of his health, be active and get back on track in his job, two critical aspects of his life being threatened because of PAD.” Diagnosis a critical first step to positive outcomes Although new treatment options are available to help patients combat PAD, the disease affects one out of 20 Americans over the age of 50.iii Dr. Mehrle says that one of the most critical barriers to overcoming PAD is accurate and timely diagnosis, because many people don’t experience symptoms, and others attribute them to other causes and don’t know to talk to their doctor about what they’re feeling. Because one of the most common symptoms of PAD is pain or cramping in the legs or hip muscles, many people don’t recognize the condition as something serious, which they need to address with their health care provider, and PAD can often go undiagnosed.iv “Because those affected by PAD are often older, and the pain or cramping caused by PAD will occur when they are walking or climbing stairs, then go away when they are resting, they simply attribute the symptoms to old age, or being out of shape in many cases,” Mehrle said. “But it’s a serious condition, and even if someone doesn’t experience the more grave consequences of the disease, including heart attack and stroke, the pain people with PAD experience can take a truly detrimental toll in other ways - threatening their health, social lives, jobs and overall quality of life.” Affecting more than just seniors While PAD predominantly presents in people older than 65, not all patients are seniors. One man treated by Dr. Mehrle was only 51 when he was diagnosed with PAD. A truck driver by trade, the patient’s PAD was preventing him from loading and unloading trucks, threatening his ability to keep his job and forcing him to think about the possibility of applying for disability. “Certainly for someone younger with PAD, like this man, who has years left before they can even consider retirement, being able to remain in the workforce is extremely important,” Mehrle said. “Quality of life depends on a number of factors, but being able to make a living and provide for your loved ones is necessary to just get by. By treating the patient with innovative technology, my hope was that we could not only restore his ability to work by reducing his leg pain while walking, but to also allow him to enjoy life to the fullest and achieve the overall health possible.” Since receiving treatment for his PAD, the patient has returned to work and has taken the necessary first steps toward achieving a healthier life than ever before. While seniors are most at risk, Dr. Mehrle says it’s important to recognize that the risk of PAD increases particularly after age 50, and that other factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, cholesterol or history of heart disease can also increase risk. If you suffer from PAD, you don’t have to endure the pain and reduced quality of life it can cause. Talk to you doctor to get more information on what treatment options are available. The information provided is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician or qualified health provider regarding your condition and appropriate medical treatment. Individual symptoms, situations and circumstances may vary. i About Peripheral Artery Disease (2014). American Heart Association. Retrieved August 2014 from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/ Conditions/More/PeripheralArteryDisease/About- Peripheral-Artery-Disease-PAD_UCM_301301_ Article.jsp. ii Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Symptoms. (2012). Retrieved August 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peripheralarterial disease/DS00537/DSECTION=symptoms iii Facts about Peripheral Artery Disease. (2006). National Institutes of Health. Retrieved August 2014 from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/ pad/docs/pad_extfctsht_general_508.pdf. iv Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Symptoms. (2012). Retrieved September 16, 2013, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peripheralarterial disease/DS00537/DSECTION=symptoms Courtesy BPT Leg pain that can be much more: peripheral artery disease
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