What is Peripheral Artery Disease?

 Peripheral Artery Disease, also called Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), is a fairly common condition of the arteries in the arms and legs.  The condition is characterized by a narrowing of the arteries, most commonly of the legs, which reduces blood flow to the effected area.  According to the American Heart Association, about 8 million Americans are affected by PAD, and by age 65, up to twenty percent of the population may have it. 

The most common symptom of peripheral arterial disease is pain and/or cramping of the leg muscles while walking.  This pain will go away with rest, but then returns when activity starts again.  The most commonly effected muscles are the calf muscles and the hip muscles.  Other symptoms of PAD include numbness or weakness of the leg, coldness of one leg when compared to the other leg, changes in skin coloring, hair pattern, or toenails, and sores on the toes, feet or legs that won’t heal. 

Peripheral arterial disease is most commonly caused by atherosclerosis.  Atherosclerosis is when plaques, or fatty deposits, build up on the walls of the arteries.  This causes the arteries to narrow, leading to the symptoms of PAD.  Atherosclerosis is often discussed as it relates to the heart, but peripheral arterial disease should always be brought up in the atherosclerosis conversation.  This is because plaque build up of the arteries usually does affect the arteries throughout the entire body. 

People with diabetes or those who smoke are at a particularly high risk for developing peripheral arterial disease.  Also at high risk are people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol.  Risk factors also include obesity, a family history of peripheral arterial disease or other heart/vascular disease, and increasing age.  PAD increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

PAD may be diagnosed by your doctor using a number of methods.  Your doctor will often listen with a stethoscope to the arteries, listening for a whooshing sound (known as bruits).  This sound gives your doctor a clue that the artery is narrowed, as normal arteries do not make this sound.  One of the most commonly used tests for diagnosing PAD is the ankle-brachial index (ABI).  This is a measurement of the blood pressure in the arm compared to the blood pressure in the ankle.  Your doctor will use blood-pressure cuffs and a non-invasive Doppler sensor to measure and compare the two blood pressures.  If the blood pressure in the ankles is low compared to the blood pressure in the arms, this is a sign of peripheral arterial disease.

Angiography may also be used to confirm the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease.  This is a procedure where the doctor will inject a small amount of dye into the blood vessels, then use either an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI to view the arteries.  This method is more invasive than the others, but it allows the doctor to see exactly where the blood clot is occurring.  This makes the condition much more possible to treat. 

When treating PAD, your doctor will usually take a two-fold approach.  The first step is to treat the symptoms, such as the leg pain, so that everyday activities are manageable.  The second step is to treat the underlying causes.  This may include medications for high blood pressure or high cholesterol.  Lifestyle changes are also important, such as quitting smoking, a change in diet, or a monitored exercise program.

Catching peripheral arterial disease early is an important step in managing the disease and preventing complications from its progression.  If you have risk factors for the disease, be sure to ask your doctor about peripheral arterial disease.  If you are experiencing symptoms such as leg pain, be sure to tell your doctor about that as well.

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com

The foot is an extremely intricate masterpiece

It consists of 28 bones, muscles, ligaments, arteries, veins and nerves.  It is designed to absorb the forces of running, walking, and jumping, lessening the burden on the knees, hips, and back.  Our feet serve such an important purpose in our every day lives, yet we often neglect them.  We stuff them in socks and shoes, and forget about them for most of the day.  So how do we keep our feet healthy?  Here are a few tips…

·         Don’t ignore that pain.  Pain is not normal, especially when it is in your feet.  If you are having foot pains, contact a podiatric physician.

·         Take the time to inspect your feet.  Check for any recent changes in color, thickening of nails, cuts, scrapes, or anything else that may seem a little “funny” or “new”.  Many times these changes can be indicative of disease or abnormality, and it is usually much easier to treat them early rather than wait for the problem to progress.

·         Wash your feet thoroughly and regularly, especially on the soles and in between the toes.  Be sure to dry them well before putting on socks or shoes. 

·         When trimming your toenails, be careful!  Cut them straight across, but don’t dig into the sides of the nail.  This can lead to ingrown toenails and infection.  People with diabetes should have their feet cared for by a podiatric physician, as this condition makes a person much more susceptible to infection.

·         Wear shoes that fit properly.  Shoes that slide around on the foot can lead to blisters and hot spots.  As a general rule of thumb, try on new shoes later in the day, when the feet are a bit larger than in the morning.  This way, you will know if the shoe is going to be too tight.  Replace old shoes that are worn out, and always wear the appropriate shoe for any physical activity that you are doing. 

·         Avoid walking barefoot, especially outside.  Walking barefoot opens the door to injury and infection.  Walking barefoot on hard surfaces, such as a wood or tile floor, over extended periods of time can lead to heel pain or plantar fasciitis.  Try a lightweight shoe or slipper when walking around the house. 

·         If you have diabetes, make an appointment to see a podiatric physician at least once a year.  A regular check-up can avoid all kinds of complications due to diabetes.  If you need help finding a podiatric physician, you can use the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Find a Physician tool. 

Follow these tips, and help to keep your feet happy and healthy!

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com

Big Appetite… Big Foot?

In our culture of enormous portions, endless temptations and the threat of ever-expanding waistlines bombarding us at every turn, it is easy to see that we all are fighting the battle of the bulge everyday! In addition, computers, television, video games and other technologies are not helping as they contribute to the lack of physical activity!

Obesity is an epidemic and one that adversely affects the human body in many ways. There are a slew of obesity-related diseases: hypertension (high blood pressure), congestive heart failure, sleep apnea, gallstone formation, osteoarthritis, gout and type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes! Research is uncovering more and more evidence about the detrimental effects of obesity on our vital organs and how it impedes normal body function. 

            However, did you know that obesity has now been linked to bigger foot sizes?! Apparently, the size of our feet as a population has been growing! Just 100 years ago, the typical American adult male wore a shoe size of 6.5 and the typical American female wore a size of 4.5! Today, the average male shoe size is a 9, and in the last 5 years, the size of men’s feet has increased 1 full shoe size!

What exactly is happening here?! There are several theories as to why foot size is on the rise. One guess is that the intake of highly processed and unhealthy foods during puberty may fuel growth hormone secretion in the body. Growth hormone affects all areas of the body, but may play a significant role in the waist, hands and feet. Another reason for increasing shoe size may actually be due to body weight and its effect on our feet. The increased burden due to obesity may be putting so much stress on our feet that our arches are collapsing, thus leading to the flattening of feet.

The present-day lifestyle and contemporary diet is leading to a trend of people becoming taller and larger with bigger foot sizes!

When shopping for shoes keep a few things in mind:

• 1.       Make sure to find shoes that accommodate both your foot length and foot width.
  
• 2.   Shoes that are too small will cramp your toes and lead to foot pain. Shoes that are too large will lead to a lack of stability and the formation of blisters.
  
• 3.       Never assume your shoe size is the same as it always been because with time, your foot size changes.
  
• 4.       Measure your foot size at the end of the day; your feet are at their largest then.
  
• 5.       Ensure that you are wearing your socks when sizing for athletic shoes.
  
• 6.       Always measure both feet and fit the shoes to the larger foot.
  

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com

Runners’ Nightmares!

If you are an avid runner, chances are you have run into some kind of foot or lower extremity problems. Think about it: the action of running involves the repetitive pounding of the foot on surfaces and sends shock waves up your body.

It is important to understand that running too soon, running too fast, or running too long are the major causes of running injuries. The conditions you may experience are your body’s way of telling you to stop overworking it! 

What are some common running ailments?

Stiff Calves

Novice runners may experience tight and stiff calf muscles and is intimately associated with the Achilles tendon. This tendon comes from your calf muscles and joins the heel to your leg. If your body is not used to exercising the calf muscles and associated structures, you will definitely experience an ache on the back of your leg.

Runner’s Knee

Have you ever walked, climbed stairs, or ran and felt a grinding and grating in your knee joint accompanied by severe pain? If so, Runner’s Knee may be one cause! This ailment is caused by an unstable patella. (The patella is your kneecap).

Shin Splints

Running on hard surfaces such as asphalt or concrete may lead to the development of shin splints. Shin splints is that burning, irritating pain originating from the center of your lower leg. Without rest or treatment, shin splints may progress into stress fractures! 

What is the best way to treat running injuries?

Stiff Calves

Make sure that prior to starting your running routine that your calves experience a full, deep stretch. You can build up the area by rising on to your toes one foot at a time, holding that position for a count of five and then lowering it.

Runner’s Knee

The best way to alleviate this condition is to ease off of the physical activity for a week and work to strengthen the muscles around the knee. To improve muscle strength clench your thigh muscles as often as you can in sets of 5. It’s a simple way to work the muscles that connect to your patella.

 

Shin Splints

To reduce the occurrence of shin splints, it is advised to run on soft surfaces such as grass while wearing shoes with ample cushioning. You may have to hold off on running for an extended period of time.

Different injuries require different modes of treatment, but the tried-and-true methods always involve prevention and a good stretching regimen. Watch and pace yourself when exercising – do not overdo it! And of course, ALWAYS seek a podiatrist’s consult when evaluating the intensity of the injury and deciding on the best treatment option! 

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.flfootandankle.com

What the Heel!? Pain!?

Did you know that the APMA (the American Podiatric Medical Association) recently conducted a survey of foot ailments in Americans? It was found that the most common complaint was heel pain with 16% of the population regularly experiencing it! Millions of patients visit their health professional for heel-related pain! The good news is that heel pain can be alleviated with non-invasive treatment with great results if it is detected and diagnosed early.

What are the roots of heel pain?

It is important to remember that heel pain is caused by some underlying foot deformity or by repetitive trauma. For instance, the most widespread reason for heel pain is due to plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a ligament which is a tissue that connects bone to bone (from the heel bone to the base of the toes) and helps to support the arch of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of said connective tissue and the pain manifests itself in the center heel region. The degree of pain may fluctuate, but the overall commonality is the experience of a sudden flare up soon after becoming mobile in the morning. Excessive running or jumping may lead to this condition.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon (known as Achilles tendinitis) is also a contributor to heel pain. This pathology has many sources for its origin: injury, increased age, bone spurs, or tight calf muscles. If medical treatment is not received early, this condition may lead to muscle tearing, formation of scar tissue, and adhesions (an adhesion is a band of scar tissue that binds two normally separate tissues together)

The degeneration of the fat pads in your foot can cause heel pain. The fat pads function as shock absorbers and if your feet strike hard surfaces it can lead to their thinning. Walking on hard surfaces with thin fat pads means your foot bones are absorbing the shock which leads to the pain.

Another reason for the development of heel pain is due to constant pounding of the foot on hard surfaces. You may irritate tissues in the foot if you participate in prolonged high-impact exercise and play sports or wear ill-fitting shoes. Most people, especially athletes try to ignore the signs of heel pain and keep on executing the action leading to their condition. As you may imagine, this ends up worsening the ailment and the heel pain could proceed into the chronic phase which leads to more problems!

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com

Hot and Cold Treatment for Arthritis

There are many types of arthritis that can affect people.  The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease.  Osteoarthritis refers to the breaking down of the cartilage that helps cushion and support the joints.  Osteoarthritis is particularly common in people over fifty-five, and it is estimated that by age sixty-five, 60% of patients will have clinical signs of degenerative joint disease.  These signs include stiffness of the joints, inflammation of the joints, aching of the joints, and soreness of the joints especially after long periods of movement or overuse.  The joints that are most commonly affected include the small joints of the fingers and toes, as well as the weight bearing joints, such as the hip and knee 

            Some treatments that have been shown to help ease the pain of osteoarthritis include heat therapy and cold therapy.  These two methods work by stimulating the body’s natural healing powers.  Heat therapy works by dilating the blood vessels, which stimulates the body’s blood circulation.  Heat also helps alter the perception of pain.  Cold therapy works in a different manner.  The cold helps reduce swelling by constricting the blood vessels to the joints.  It also helps numb the pain of arthritis. 

            There are two ways of using heat therapy for arthritic pain – dry and wet.  Dry therapy includes things like heating blankets and microwaveable heat packs.  Wet therapy usually refers to a hot bath or shower, a washcloth soaked in hot water, or a whirl pool or sauna.  However, people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or high blood pressure are warned against hot tubs and saunas. 

            Cold therapy has also been shown to be effective against joint pain from osteoarthritis.  A cold pack can be used, or a bag of ice.  Some people use a spray such as flouromethane, which creates a superficial cooling on the skin.  This helps numb the pain, and can be particularly useful on areas that are hard to keep a bag of ice on, such as the backs of the knees. 

            Different people have different results with hot and cold therapy.  In face, some people have the best results with mixing the two therapies, often alternating between hot and cold.  If you suffer from arthritis, talk to your doctor about the possibility of incorporating hot and cold therapy into your arthritis treatment.  

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com