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Millions of Americans suffer from poor circulation, but many of them don’t even know it ― and the consequences can be devastating. Dr. Manny talks...
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-- Hello welcome to help all got a document in the United States millions of people.
Are suffering from poor circulation.
The scary thing is many of them don't even know and the consequences can be devastating joining me now is doctor frank beef.
Professor of surgery and and -- you angle medical center in New York.
Thank you -- -- for being here.
You know Porsche regulation is something that we've -- more more because I think people are living longer.
-- we have a lot of on the -- medical conditions but let's talk about some of the this thing some of the conditions that can give you poor circulation.
Well of the main one is arteriosclerosis.
Okay hardening of the arteries which causes blocked arteries.
Everywhere but particularly in the lower extremities.
Went when you talk about poor circulation you -- you mentioned the extremities but.
It could affect any part of your body absolutely any arteries anywhere can be involved dvi portion diligently -- as you can have a stroke.
The same thing would you limps your hard to you and organize your kidneys and right -- Let's -- about risk factors you know that there are lots of risk factor like course smoking is a big one that you can do something about.
Diabetes is another one that you may or may not be able to do a lot about right.
You can't pick your parents so the genetic factors are pretty on control so there's some genetic of course that could -- that's a big one all right.
Each you know what do you think I think -- -- sometimes a I hear it in a thirty something year old folks to only -- Dr.
-- my legs like a poor circulation but.
Get it it didn't really feel inches towards the latter part of well.
The disease progresses through your life that is hardening of the arteries but you can be very old and have -- hardening of the arteries similarly can be young.
And have an aggressive form.
So age is a factor but not a big one so to dig a little bit out of the norm because I think we need to cover this -- as you mentioned that.
Heart you know they ended the obstruction of arterial flow is the consequence.
But.
Things like cholesterol.
It is it correlated I mean just absolutely right I mean did the drugs that lower.
-- -- Stop the progression of -- sclerosis and make it less malignant the Staten drugs -- Diet of course is a factor it's not a huge one but it's a factor obesity is a factor.
There are lots of factors but many of the people that say they of -- circulation.
Really don't have it okay and even those some of those who do have it don't have it bad enough that much needs to be done about it.
Let's talk about the symptoms.
Give me a typical.
I come into your office -- one of the buzz words that you wanna hear well so called intermittent court vacation which is pain in the muscles of the lower extremity practically below the knee.
On walking.
With relief of that pain.
When one stops walking.
There are many many causes of pain in the lower extremities most of them are -- related to.
Circulation but that one is specific and that's a milder form of arterial blockage that produces that the serious forms which -- that.
Ones that I'm particularly interested in are the ones that cause a threat to the -- -- it gangrene.
A malignant sort of all -- Or it.
True -- grasping and and then what are some of the signs that would be reflect -- discoloration.
Looking for toe turns blue or black that's.
Pre gang greatness right and a big worry although it can be due to infection as well as poor circulation or a combination of the two.
So really some change in the appearance of the foot.
Or pain at rest.
Which is really fairly severe that's a -- -- -- that's a war once they get to you always did diagnosis made very simple from my.
Perspective just looking at the foot.
Feeling it if it's not cool.
If it's got normal collar.
That leg is not in danger that puts not endangered -- feeling the -- -- if you're skilled person.
You can tell if a person has a pulse in the foot.
That foot is not danger and then they're noninvasive tests which can confirm.
The physical exam and ultimately there invasive tests -- -- -- repeat cat -- so forth and and upwards of corners right one you mentioned noninvasive right.
Once you make a diagnosis all of poor circulation.
Or obstruction or partial obstruction.
How is it treated well it's very important question because.
Just having a blocked artery doesn't require treatment.
What requires treatment is if the blockage is so severe that the -- is threatened.
Then those are hard to -- but they require treatment right.
Nowadays more and more people are treating blocked arteries just because there there were because they produce a little pain on walking.
I don't happen to subscribe to that opinion I think most vascular disease is best treated conservatively by.
Non operative or non intervention.
Means -- -- show you usually Hussein and if I came to you and let's say.
My -- my leg was not threatened with poor circulation and I and I had symptoms and -- it well it.
You know you're having symptoms of vascular disease you don't -- have an obstruction.
You'll say to me what can I wanted to -- -- I would say your legs not threatened -- not endangered.
Clean up your life eat right go on -- me around in other words like it was a little bit FBI but mostly reassuring you right.
That no specific treatment in eventual treatment is adequate for that condition.
When the lake is threatened when you have a gang -- and -- -- Or gang reduce ulcer.
That patient needs aggressive treatment by a very skilled specialists how can people tell the difference between Portuguese nation and listen just numbness of of of you -- neurological -- numbness or nothing strikes pinched nerve pinched nerve arthritis.
You need to see is skilled vascular physician or vascular surgeon typically.
In order to make that differentiation and sometimes it's difficult for us like if you have a normal pulse in the foot.
It's not vascular right almost a 100% 95% -- -- you give me some tips that people can maybe pay attention to.
In how to prevent.
Poor circulation.
Be followed by a good.
Internist.
Doctor make sure that your cholesterol is being well managed typically would Staten drugs which I'm a great believer in.
Make sure your blood pressure is under control make sure your diabetes is under control.
Stop smoking.
Read a clean life and you know maintain your weight with some exercise.
And that is the best you can do.
With the gene pool what you're given by god your parents right and of course if you find any symptoms and businesses -- say.
Gold sea and vascular surgeon these are folks and I specialize.
In the field all of you know circulation and they really know what they're doing.
-- thank you for coming to the program great tips important information because.
Vascular disease is on the way -- -- pleasure thank you thank you.
Any idea how many health -- you wanna talk to be about email me at fox had -- many -- functions dot com until next time.
I'm not too.
