Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)
Can Exercise Therapy Ease Peripheral Artery Disease Symptoms?
Patricia Creque describes herself as "one of those people who has music in my head and am always ready to dance." Peripheral artery disease (PAD), however, had made it difficult for her to dance—or even walk. Could exercise therapy help?
"For years I had such issues with my legs," said Creque, 69, of Wyomissing. "I had no idea what was causing the pain, but it affected my quality of life."
Determined to find out what was going on, Creque researched possible causes of leg pain and read about PAD. When she learned it was caused by atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, she began to connect the dots.
"I knew I had atherosclerosis, and I knew it had affected my heart, but I didn't know it could also be causing the pain in my legs," Creque said.
She consulted her primary care physician, who sent her to Penn State Health Vascular Surgery in Wyomissing. She learned that PAD is a common condition, affecting 5 to 6 million people in the United States. While some people with PAD are asymptomatic, others, including Creque, experience the classic symptom of leg cramping and pain with physical activity that gets better with rest.
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"The pain from muscle cramping in the legs is always there when you walk, but as soon as you stop walking, it goes away," said Dr Ali Amin, a vascular surgeon at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. "That's the difference between PAD and other types of leg pain."
Cause and Symptoms of PADAmin explained that atherosclerosis causes blood vessels to narrow, restricting blood flow to a person's extremities—usually the legs. When blood supply is reduced, not enough oxygen and nutrients get to the muscles, especially during increased demand, such as walking, which results in pain.
Other symptoms may include pain in the foot while resting, discoloration of the feet or legs, numbness, and cold feet. More advanced symptoms include ulcers of the foot or gangrene of the foot or toes, which may result in amputation. PAD also can lead to coronary artery disease, which could cause a stroke or heart attack.
"PAD can be a serious condition," Amin said. "If you have leg pain only one day out of seven, that's not peripheral artery disease. But if you have pain every time you walk, you should take it seriously and get checked."
Benefits of Supervised Exercise TherapyOnce Creque had been diagnosed with PAD, she was treated with balloon angioplasty to open up her narrowed arteries. Despite this, her pain persisted. Eager for solutions, she resumed her research and discovered Penn State Health's supervised exercise therapy program. She contacted Spring Ridge Outpatient Center for more information.
Learning that she qualified for the program, Creque decided to enroll.
A clinical exercise physiologist with Penn State Health Spring Ridge Outpatient Center, Allison Canon leads the supervised exercise program for PAD patients. Participants who are able are instructed to walk on treadmills, Cannon said, while anyone who has trouble accessing a treadmill is encouraged to participate in walking exercises on the floor.
Exercise is prescribed for PAD patients because it increases blood flow and improves circulation, which can ease pain. Patients may experience discomfort while walking, but it's the best exercise for pain relief.
"We don't want patients working to severe pain, but some discomfort is good because it means the blood is working to get through blockages and to the muscles," Cannon said.
As they build up stamina and pain tolerance, patients are challenged to increase the distance they can walk on a treadmill. Creque, who said she could not tolerate much walking at all when she started the program, was able to accomplish three sets of 12 to 15 minutes on the treadmill by the end.
Program staff members observe patients, monitoring their vital signs, pain level, endurance, recovery time and the speed and elevation of the treadmill.
Cannon encouraged PAD patients who are interested in the program to consult with their provider about getting enrolled in a supervised exercise therapy program near them.
"It's really rewarding to work closely with patients and see how much they improve by their last day," Cannon said.
Any Exercise is Helpful for PADWhile supervised exercise therapy has been found to improve walking ability, overall function and health-related quality of life in patients with symptomatic PAD, patients who exercise on their own can also see improvements. Walking or using a stationary bike can increase blood flow to the legs, while swimming, yoga and stretching may improve overall circulation.
Amin advised patients to exercise as much as they are able, while also taking other steps to minimize their chances of developing PAD and lessening symptoms.
"Stop smoking, control your blood sugar, and watch your cholesterol and blood pressure," Amin advised. "Watch what you eat and exercise as much as you're able to. You don't have to go to the gym or have any special equipment. Just walk as much as you can."
Back to DancingCreque, who saw significant improvement in pain relief and movement after completing the supervised exercise therapy program, enrolled in a senior dance class at her gym. After several classes, she was asked, and agreed, to lead a Friday morning class.
"I never would have had the confidence to do that without the program," she said. "I came out of it feeling much stronger—mentally and physically."
Featured image: Patricia Creque, a graduate of the supervised exercise therapy program at Penn State Health Spring Ridge Outpatient Center, leads a dance class at Wyo West Fitness. Photo: Penn State Health
Mum Shares Horrifying Photo Of 20 Killer Blood Clots Buried In Her Leg – Triggered By The Birth Of Her 9.5lb Baby
A MUM has shared a horrifying image of 20 killer blood clots found buried in her leg - triggered by childbirth.
Starla Ellis, 30, from Ohio, US, had recently given birth to a "whopping" 9lb 10.5oz baby after a gruelling labour, when she began feeling pain in her right leg.
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Starla didn't think I was going to surviveCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media6
She gave birth to her third child Amaris via emergency C-section after the baby got 'stuck'Credit: Kennedy Newsand MediaIt began in November with an ache in her lower back, which then moved to her abdomen and right leg.
"The [leg] pain was excruciating I couldn't move, and I had to almost crawl to the car to go to the hospital," she said.
Doctors said the pain was a result of one blood clot in the femoral artery in her right leg.
She was sent home with blood thinners, which didn't work for long.
"As they discharged me, I was quite concerned as I had a numbing feeling in my leg, but I just ignored this as the hospital said I was good to leave," she explained.
At first, she thought the medicine was working.
But suddenly, she started developing a fever and noticed her leg had gone "stiff".
"Complete terror was going through my head, and I thought I might lose my leg," she said.
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'Close to losing my life'Scans revealed her leg was, in fact, riddled with 20 clumps, which needed to be surgically removed right away.
Disturbing photos show the bulging red clots on a piece of cloth after they were removed from her right leg.
The mum claims she thought she would die and is now urging people to be persistent with their hospital referrals to ensure they get the care they need the first time around.
"I broke down when I saw how many blood clots were in my leg as I didn't realise it was that bad," Starla said.
She added: "Seeing a photo of all the blood clots put it into perspective of how bad it was and how close it was to me losing my life.
"Not only did the photo of the 20 blood clots shock me, but it hurt my feelings that the previous doctor let me walk out of the hospital."
According to the NHS, blood clots can be very serious and must be treated quickly.
Clots that form in the veins in your legs, arms, and groin can break loose and move to other parts of your body, including your lungs.
This can lead to illness, disability and even death.
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Her leg was riddled with 20 blood clots which needed to be surgically removed right awayCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media6
The mum is urging others to be persistent with doctorsCredit: Kennedy Newsand MediaWhile it remains unclear what caused the clots, the mum claims a doctor told her the blood clots could have been caused by possible C-section complications.
Starla said her third child, Amaris, was a big baby for her petite 5ft 3inch frame.
This meant the baby got "stuck" in her vaginal canal - which led to excessive pushing before doctors decided to take her to the OR.
He eventually arrived via an emergency C-section.
Different types of blood clotAccording to Medical News Today, there are two kinds of blood clots women may experience after giving birth.
One is clots that are passed through the vagina in the days after birth, which are from the shedding of the womb's lining and the detachment of the placenta.
The second is clots that happen inside the body's veins, which are uncommon but can be life-threatening.
This may be because pregnancy raises the pressure in the veins in your legs and pelvis, making clots more likely.
"You need to stay persistent with your doctor with your healthcare and they don't always seem to be as worried as you are," she explained.
"You know your body, and if you feel like something is wrong, you need to get it checked out.
"Follow up with your doctor as blood clots can be fatal."
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Starla with her family while pregnant with her third child AmarisCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media6
Amaris was a very big baby for her sizeCredit: Kennedy Newsand MediaWhat are the symptoms of a blood clot?
There are two types of blood clots.
A blood clot in one of the large veins in someone's leg or arm is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
If not treated, DVT can move or break off and travel into the lungs.
A blood clot in the lung is called a pulmonary embolism (PE) - this can be deadly and requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of a DVT include:
Symptoms of PE include:
Source: NHS, CDC
Sign In Your Leg That Could Be A Red Flag Symptom Of Silent Killer Condition
Why cholesterol is bad for youHaving high cholesterol - or hypercholesterolemia - means there is too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood. While this may not initially cause any issues, over time it can raise your risk for a number of serious health problems.
This is because the cholesterol can build-up in the arteries leading to blockages, preventing blood from getting through. It is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death around the world, responsible for nearly 18 million fatalities annually.
The UK is no exception to this trend, with cardiovascular disease linked to around a quarter of all deaths.
Unfortunately for most people having high cholesterol is a symptomless condition, earning it the title of a "silent killer".
Many people will not realise they have high cholesterol until after an associated medical emergency or if they get their levels tested by a doctor.
The Cleveland Clinic, in the US, explains: "High cholesterol doesn't cause any symptoms for most people.
"You could be a marathon runner and have high cholesterol. You won't start to feel any symptoms until the high cholesterol causes other problems in your body."
However, there are a few telltale signs that could prove lifesaving if spotted early.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, leg cramping can be one sign of high cholesterol.
This means that the cholesterol has built up to such a level that it has caused a plaque build up in the arteries known as atherosclerosis.
If this occurs in vessels in the legs or arms, it is called peripheral artery disease (PAD) - a condition that causes leg cramps when "moving around".
This cramping should set off alarm bells as it means the vessels are already heavily blocked.
"PAD is dangerous because it often causes no symptoms," the clinic explains.
"You might finally start to feel symptoms when a peripheral artery is at least 60 percent blocked. A key symptom is intermittent claudication.
"This is a leg cramp that starts up when you're moving around but then stops when you rest. It's a sign of reduced blood flow caused by the growing plaque in your artery."
If you have PAD, it might not just be your legs that are affected.
The clinic continues: "PAD can cause major problems in your legs and feet but also elsewhere in your body.
"That's because all your blood vessels are connected through your cardiovascular system. So, plaque buildup in one area slows down your whole network of 'pipes.'"
Having PAD is also associated with a greater risk of coronary heart disease, which is the biggest cause of death among cardiovascular disease in the UK.
If you are concerned about your cholesterol levels you should speak to your doctor.
To lower your cholesterol levels the NHS recommends:
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