MOUNT VERNON – September is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Awareness Month, and the Center for Wound Healing at Knox Community Hospital (KCH) is spreading the word.
Peripheral artery disease develops when the arteries that supply blood throughout the body become completely or partially blocked. This blockage by fatty plaque deposits that harden arteries is called atherosclerosis and significantly reduces blood flow. The most common type is lower-extremity PAD, where there is a reduction in blood flow to the legs and feet. When left untreated, PAD can lead to gangrene or even limb loss.
PAD affects nearly 10 million people in the United States and increases their risks of hard-to-heal wounds and associated lower-limb amputations by obstructing circulation to the legs. Although the long-term effects of PAD are serious, an astonishing 40% of people with PAD do not experience any symptoms.
The Center for Wound Healing at KCH, a member of the Healogics network, provides specialized wound care and non-invasive tests, including the ankle-brachial index (ABI) test, which compares blood pressure in the ankles and arms to diagnose PAD, and ultrasound tests to identify which arteries are blocked. Treatments involve the latest technologies and could include hyperbaric oxygen therapy, for example.
The experts at the Center for Wound Healing share the following risk factors for PAD:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Age above 65 years
- Heart disease
- Excessive weight
- Family history of PAD or arterial disease
- Smoking
For more information on identifying PAD and treating chronic or infected wounds, contact the Center for Wound Healing at Knox Community Hospital at 740-393-4325 or learn more at www.kch.org/center-wound-healing.
