Peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the arteries of your legs, limiting blood flow to your lower extremities. PAD can be just as dangerous as heart disease because it increases the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. In many cases, plaque...
Venous stasis ulcers, also called "venous leg ulcers," are wounds on the skin. They are due to a pooling of blood in veins. These ulcers happen most often on the legs. Usually, mild injuries and wounds heal with time. The average time it takes for people to recover from injuries varies; however,...
A condition known as venous stasis dermatitis or leg discoloration is an inflammation of the skin that occurs due to poor circulation. It can occur anywhere on your legs, but it’s prevalent near the calves, ankles, and feet because that’s where blood usually collects. Over time, the gradual...
When talking about swollen veins on the legs, you may hear terms such as varicose veins and spider veins used interchangeably, even though these are two different vein issues. While they can occur for similar reasons, it’s essential to know the difference when deciding what treatment options are...
Leg ulcers are no joke. As many as 1.69% of Americans experience leg ulcers at some point in their lives. Ulcers can cause significant pain and tissue damage, and they can lead to amputation. If you want to keep your legs safe, you should know about leg ulcers in detail. What are...
Around 6.5 million people aged 40 and over have peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the US. This common circulatory problem refers to narrowed arteries that reduce blood flow to your limbs, especially your legs. Many people with PAD have no symptoms. For others, one of...
Deep vein thrombosis is a condition in which a blood clot forms in one of your deep veins, often in the legs. DVT can cause severe pain and swelling, which can bring down your quality of life and even limit your mobility, depending on where it occurs. Those who sit for long periods of time are at...
Did you know that shepherds in France used to apply blue cheese to their wounds to avoid developing gangrene? That's because the cheese contained Penicillium mold, a natural producer of the modern antibiotic "penicillin." The shepherds knew back then what still holds true today -...
Did you know that by the year 2030, it is believed that more than 12 million people in the United States alone will suffer from atrial fibrillation? Atrial fibrillation and other forms of irregular heartbeats are more common than you might think, and they can often be fatal. If you...
Blood makes or breaks a person's health. More than 200 million people have artery disease. Someone who has artery disease is twice as likely to have heart failure. You must know about the threats to your blood and vascular health. Peripheral vascular disease is a significant...
Atherectomy (a·thr·ek·tuh·mee) - sounds more complicated than it is. An atherectomy is a medical procedure to remove plaque from an artery. The goal of the procedure is to improve blood flow to the heart and the rest of the body.This article will explain the atherectomy process and why people...
Did you know that every 36 seconds, someone dies due to heart problems? According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Early detection and intervention are crucial to help improve someone's outcome and quality of life when it comes to heart...