PAD: The Silent I<iller

Local doctor discusses poor circulation and how to protect yourself pAD is often called the silent killer because you may have it and not even know;• says Dr. Joel Rainwater, chief medical officer of Comprehensive Integrated Care (CiC). The reason it's sometimes missed is because people dismiss the symptoms of this dangerous disease as just a sign of getting older'. But it's not "It's not normal to have difficulty walking to your mailbox, it's not normal to have constant leg pain or

Comprehensive Integrated Care cramping;' says Rainwater, "That's not normal aging, it could be a sign of PAD."

4700 Jefferson St NE #800

Albuquerque, NM

87109

(505) 932-7112 newmexicocic.com

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) restricts blood flow to the legs and feet It's often confused with neuropathy, as the symptoms are similar and include difficulty walking without taking a break, burning, tingling, numbness, or pain.

'When I see a patient, who has been told they have neuropathy and they've been maximized on medication that's not working, I know there may be something else that's causing it and one of the notorious offenders in that scenario is PAD;' says Rainwater.

PAD is a build-up of fatty material inside the arteries that limits blood flow. If an artery is blocked, ox ygen and nutrients can't get to the muscle

Dr. Joel Rainwater and ner ves.

"This is something we can fix;' explains Rainwater. "There is treatment and it's excellent:' Patients are able to get back to their everyday lifestyle with almost no downtime. Most insurances, including Medicare, cover treatment.

''I'm here to tell patients there are options, all they have to do is ask;' says Rainwater. "They might have to ask another doctor, but they don' t have to live with the idea that they're going to suffer for the rest of their life:'

Joel Rainwater, MD is an endovascular specialist. He can be reached at 505-932-7112.

What are the signs of PAD? Ask yourself these questions:

Do your legs and/or feet ever feel numb or burn?

Do your legs hurt, get tired or cramp when you walk?

Does standing relieve nighttime cramps in your legs or feet?

Do you have leg or foot sores that are slow to heal?

Do you think or have you been told you have neuropathy?

If you answered "yes," you may have PAD and should talk to your doctor about your symptoms