What You Need to Know About the Diabetes-Heart Disease Connection
Having diabetes doubles your risk of heart disease and stroke. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to mitigate that risk and keep your heart healthy — learn more here.
Are You At Risk For PAD?
Millions of Americans are living with peripheral artery disease (PAD), and many don’t know it. That’s because PAD doesn’t always cause symptoms, even as it increases your odds of:
- Suffering a major heart attack or stroke
- Having a transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- Critical limb ischemia, a severe version of the disease that can lead to limb amputation
Preventing PAD and its dangerous complications begins with a simple question: Am I at risk? For PAD Awareness Month this September, our team at Sunnyvale Cardiology in Sunnyvale, Texas, is here to help you determine exactly that — and offer guidance on how to protect your health.
Plaque buildup leads to PAD
Atherosclerosis is the narrowing of arteries from the buildup of fatty plaque. Cardiovascular conditions arising from atherosclerosis, including PAD, rank as the leading cause of death, both in the United States and worldwide.
PAD affects the legs most often
PAD develops when sticky plaque accumulates in arteries outside the heart — most frequently, in the lower extremities. These fatty deposits gradually make blood vessels narrower, slowing the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the affected extremities.
Early PAD doesn’t cause symptoms
Often, PAD doesn’t cause tell-tale symptoms like cramping leg pain until it’s already advanced, well past the “prime time” to reverse course with conservative care measures. And sometimes, even advanced cases of PAD don’t trigger typical symptoms.
PAD is most treatable in early stages
PAD is most treatable in its earliest stages. Because these stages are often “silent,” however, most people don’t seek medical care until much later. Fortunately, you can still get ahead of PAD — and possibly prevent it altogether — by understanding your risk.
What’s your personal PAD risk?
About 12 million Americans over the age of 40 have been diagnosed with PAD, but experts surmise that millions more are unaware that they are living with the disease. Could you be one of them? The following factors can help you get an idea of your personal risk:
Unalterable risk factors
Anyone can develop PAD, but the risk is highest among adults aged 60 or older, as well as those with a family history of cardiovascular disease. Black people have a higher risk of PAD — and PAD complications — than people of other racial backgrounds.
Modifiable risk factors
As with other cardiovascular conditions, some of the most significant PAD risk factors are avoidable, modifiable, or manageable. These include daily lifestyle choices like:
- Smoking (a factor in 50% of cases)
- Inactivity; lack of daily exercise
- A diet high in saturated fats
- Unmanaged chronic stress
Certain long-term health conditions can also increase your risk of PAD, including:
- Insulin resistance; type 2 diabetes
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Unhealthy blood cholesterol levels
- Obesity and metabolic syndrome
- Living with chronic kidney disease
Chronic illness risk factors for PAD are most significant when they’re uncontrolled; treatment and proper disease management can help mitigate that risk.
Smoking and diabetes are two leading PAD risk factors: People in these groups are up to four times more likely to develop PAD than those who don’t smoke or have diabetes.
Risk factor accumulation
The bottom line? PAD risk is cumulative, meaning the more “risk factor boxes” you check on this list, the greater your chances of developing the disease.
Don’t let PAD sneak up on you
If you’re concerned about your PAD risk — especially if you’re also having symptoms like leg pain during exercise, sporadic “pins-and-needles” sensations in your legs or feet, or burning foot pain when you’re resting at night — come see our team.
Luckily, the very same healthy lifestyle changes and interventions that can help prevent PAD can also slow its progression and keep it under control. Whether an evaluation reveals you have early-stage PAD or you’re just at risk of it, we may create a plan to help you:
- Quit smoking
- Control blood sugar levels
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Increase physical activity
- Choose heart-healthy foods
- Manage high blood pressure
- Keep cholesterol in check
Understanding your personal risk level for PAD is the first step in taking control of your health — and Sunnyvale Cardiology is here to help. Call our office today, or request an appointment online at your convenience.
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