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Prevention & Risk Factors
Your greatest asset for prevention is information. HealthYes! screenings
can identify abnormalities, will give you valuable information about
your vascular health, and establish a baseline for you and your
physician to monitor.
PAD can happen to anyone, but
is most prevalent in men and women over 50 years of age.
PAD is a major public health threat for 10-12 million Americans.
Greater screening efforts through the use of the Ankle-Brachial
Index as well as the management of the following controllable risk
factors will put you well on your way to preventing or managing
“PAD.”
Controllable Risk Factors:
- High cholesterol
If you have high cholesterol, follow your doctor's guidelines
for eating a diet low in fats and cholesterol and, if necessary,
take medication to lower your cholesterol.
- High blood pressure
If you have high blood pressure, follow your doctor's recommendations
for changing your diet and taking your medication.
- Smoking
If you smoke, quit. Those that smoke are at a much greater risk
of developing PAD.
- Diabetes
If you are diabetic, monitor your blood sugar frequently, follow
a healthy diet and take your insulin or oral medication as your
doctor has prescribed.
- Being overweight
- Lack of exercise and physical activity
Uncontrollable Risk Factors:
Other risk factors, unfortunately, are out of your control. Periodic
screenings can help to identify the development and progression
of PAD, allowing time for proper treatment.
- Age
Men and women over the age of 50 are at the greatest risk.
- Family history
Like other diseases we screen for, Peripheral Artery Disease is considered
a silent killer. Research has shown that up to 75 percent of those with
PAD have no symptoms. Those with PAD are four to six times more likely to
die of a cardiovascular related event. PAD is best prevented through
early identification of risk. Please join us for one of our vital,
and potentially life-saving screenings.
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