AllTo help educate our patients on podiatric heart related issues, we are sharing information about PAD. Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) commonly referred to as poor circulation, affects 8 to 12 million Americans. Those over the age of 70 have the disease at a rate of one in every five people. PAD and diabetes are the leading causes of foot or leg amputations in the United States. Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is caused by a blockage or narrowing of the arteries in the legs when fatty deposits or plaque build up. This results in a reduction of blood flow to the legs and feet. Causes of PAD:
- High Cholesterol
- High Blood Pressure
- Sedentary Lifestyle
- Genetics - a family history of peripheral artery disease, heart disease or stroke
- High levels of homocysteine, a protein component that helps build and maintain tissue
- Fatigue, tiredness, or pain in your legs, thighs, or buttocks that occur when you walk, but goes away with rest
- Foot or toe pain at rest that often disturbs your sleep.
- Skin wounds or ulcers on your feet or toes that are slow to heal (longer than 8-12 weeks).
- You find yourself dangling your foot/leg on the side of the bed due to discomfort.
- Punched-out appearance
- Smooth wound edges
- Cool to the touch
- Skin is pale, shiny, taut, and thin
- Minimal to no hair growth on the limbs
- Painful, especially at night or with elevation of the leg
When to Visit Your PodiatristDo not ignore leg pain. It is important to discuss any leg or thigh pain that you are having with your podiatric physician since it could be a warning sign of a serious disease such as PAD. In many of our offices, we can perform non invasive testing to diagnose PAD. Early detection of PAD can offer an opportunity to treat risk factors that can slow the progression of the disease and proper referrals can be made if necessary for vascular intervention. Dr. Hetal Kathrotiya-Mago works in two offices for your convenience- Silver Spring, MD (MedStar- Leisure World) and Silver Spring, MD (International Dr).
The information on this site is provided for your assistance only; this site does not provide podiatric advice. You should never diagnose or treat yourself for a podiatric condition based on the information provided herein, and the information is not provided for that purpose. Likewise, you should never determine that treatment is unnecessary based on this information. The information contained herein is not a substitute for podiatric care provided by a licensed podiatric professional. The information provided herein is not podiatric, medical or professional advice. This site does not create a doctor-patient relationship.
Dr. Kathrotiya-Mago and Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic, LLC expressly disclaims all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, related to any products offered for sale on this web site. Dr. Kathrotiya-Mago and Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic, LLC further expressly disclaims any product warranties of effectiveness or fitness for any particular purpose or use. You are solely responsible for your use of, or reliance on, any products offered for sale herein, and any consequences arising out of such use or reliance. In no event will Dr. Kathrotiya-Mago and Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic, LLC be liable for any damages resulting from use of or reliance on any such products, whether based on warranty, contract, tort or any other legal theory.
This Website, and the information contained herein, is provided to you as a service for use at your sole risk.Sports medicine… it sounds healthy, fit and cutting edge… and it’s all true. Sports medicine is a term that talks about staying in the game, getting back in action, being your best and being treated like a superstar jock, no matter if you’re a Super Bowl Quarterback or a gym class hero. We all want to be the best we can be immediately. We want to stay in the game. As Foot and Ankle Specialists, our goal is to get our athletes back in the game. When athletes are sidelined with ankle sprains, fractures and tendinitis, Podiatrists have many tools to get them back on their feet as soon as possible. Today sports medicine is filled with excellent treatments from Podiatrists, and they’re available for everybody. While there are several options that you and your podiatrist can discuss, two of the recommended treatments are custom orthotic shoe inserts and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). You may ask: how does extracorporeal shockwave therapy work? It is a weekly treatment in the office that needs no anesthesia, needles, shots or pills. It’s slightly uncomfortable, but not painful. With Shockwave, the soundwaves are applied to help stimulate a new healing response from your body to the injured tissue. The treatment takes 15-20 minutes, and you can go about your day afterwards. We do this weekly for 4-6 weeks to stimulate healing in the tissue. Hopefully, we can all benefit from the hard research that many great doctors have done, and the tough decisions that a lot of athletes have made to stay in the game. My hope, as a doctor and caretaker of feet and ankles, is that I can provide that for my patients. I’m middle-aged, and I have a dim future in sports. But I still run, exercise and try to stay fit. I try to be an active husband and father, and I want the best for my patients and myself.
Dr. Kirk Woelffer at the finish line of the Rock N’ Roll Raleigh Half Marathon
Dr. Kirk Woelffer, wife Christina and kids on a family adventure.