Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 39)

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) Warning signs: Redness, pain, swelling and heat in one leg Take acTion: Call 911 WhaT’s happening: DVT is a serious blood clot in a leg or pelvic vein. If the clot breaks loose, it can travel into the lungs, where it blocks blood flow to the lungs and puts pressure on the heart. This is called a pulmonary embolism, and symptoms include sudden difficulty breathing, heart palpitations, chest pain, and blue lips or fingers. DVT and pulmonary embolism are emergencies that require immediate treatment. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) Warning signs: Calf or leg pain; cold, pale or blue feet; difficulty walking; leg or foot sores that don’t heal Take acTion: An ultrasound or angiogram of leg arteries will confirm the diagnosis, and your doctor may recommend a bypass or stent if the artery is more than 75 percent blocked WhaT’s happening: PAD is the partial or complete blockage of an artery in the leg. It’s one of the most common vascular diseases, affecting about 8 million Americans, so Lundberg urges all primary care doctors to perform routine screening for PAD, either by listening to the arteries in the feet or with a simple test called the ankle-brachial index (ABI) that involves putting blood pressure cuffs on your arms and legs. For a five-second check, though, start by looking down at your feet. “If you have hair growing on your toes, it’s a good sign,” Lundberg explains. “It means you have good circulation there!” Diagnosis is critical. According to the Vascular Disease Foundation, people with PAD are five times more likely to have a heart attack, and two to three times more likely to have a stroke. Pelvis: Legs: photography by photolibrary Vim & Vigor • Fal l 2011 39

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil's Feature
So Long, Suffering
The Will to Recover
Healthy Hues
The New Survivors
First (Aid) Things First
Find Your Groove
A Healthy Tune
Stay in Circulation
‘X’ Marks the Spot
Pregnancy Predictors
Play It Safe
Prime Time Health
Full Strength
Lifesaving Gift
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center