A potentially deadly trend
As you get older, your risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD) increases. The trouble is, you may not have any symptoms that would tip you off that you have it.
Researchers are finding that the prevalence of asymptomatic PAD is increasing at a steady rate in this country. That should come as no surprise as our population continues on its trend toward predominantly grayer heads.
A research team investigated a little closer, scrutinizing data from three different National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) that had been done every two years.
They looked at a measure called the ankle-brachial index. This test measures the ratio of the blood pressure in your arms and legs. It's measured while you're at rest, and then again after some sort of movement such as a five-minute walk on the treadmill.
A normal index number would be between a 1.0 and 1.1, and anything below 1.0 is considered abnormal. If your index is less than 0.9, it means you fall into the category of having PAD and your blood isn't able to circulate as well to your extremities due to narrowed arteries.
The researchers, looking at 5,376 participants, found that in people age 40 and older, the prevalence of asymptomatic PAD increased from 3.7 percent to 4.6 percent in just a five-year period. It was highest among those over the age of 70, which was again to be expected. But all age groups showed an increase in prevalence, so overall it showed a trend on the rise.
Remember, this is asymptomatic, which means you may not have any obvious signs. Talk to your doctor about being tested so you'll at least have a baseline reading.
You could also be having symptoms but haven't attributed it to PAD. If you experience pain in your leg muscles during walking, pain in the ball of your foot or in your toes, or sores that don't heal, tell your doctor.
And a lot of people who experience the leg muscle pain will stop walking as much because they think they're hurting themselves. That's the last thing you should do. I recommend you keep walking—it's the very thing you need for treating the condition. In addition to walking (which is the cornerstone of treatment for PAD), gingko biloba can be quite effective in improving circulation to the legs and reducing pain. I recommend Nature's Way Ginkgold Max, 120 milligrams once or twice per day. This is a high quality, standardized, German pharmaceutical that has proven itself in innumerous studies. Because ginkgo can thin the blood, which is usually desirable, people on blood-thinning drugs like Coumadin (warfarin) should exercise caution. And as always, if you are taking any herbs and vitamins, please let your doctor know.
