PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE (PAD)

ILLNESS INSIGHTS BY DR. JIM RYBACKI

Don’t leg poor leg circulation cramp your stride

My dad could only walk about 50 feet without having painful leg cramps. We didn’t know this at the time, but this was the same cholesterol problem that compromised his heart circulation, working in a bad way to decrease the blood flow to his legs. Your doctor would call this Peripheral Artery Disease or PAD. Think of it as a leg attack.

The problem behind PAD is partly cholesterol, partly high blood pressure, partly hardening of the arteries (calcium buildup or arteriosclerosis), partly STRESS, and the chemicals that go with it, and needs to be controlled NOW.

PAD is a sign or symptom of a group of problems that destroys your leg circulation and also puts your brain, heart, kidneys, feelings vision, and your very life at risk for severe and expensive changes that might possibly end it. Unfortunately, a leg attack usually doesn’t have any signs or symptoms unless the circulation becomes very limited. Combination treatment is required to get things on track.

Be sure to talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the pills you take and talk to your doc about drug safety, side effects, and potentially harmful drug interactions. Take a deep breath, and I’ll help you navigate through what can often be a confusing combination of medical news, the latest treatments, the FDA-removing drugs from the market, new guidelines, research, and the ever-changing world of prescription drugs!

I am Dr. James Rybacki [author of The Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs] and YOUR personal advocate and guide through the confusing – and potentially dangerous – world of illness, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs (OTC), herbs, and herbal supplements!  My videos, information packets, newsletters, and books will explain medical terminology, treatment options, and drug use/safety in clear, easy-to-understand language.  

While other sites provide drug information, I go beyond the basics and concentrate on possible drug interactions, minor AND serious potential side effects, and the safety of the drug with pregnant or nursing women—in short, more than 40 categories of information in the Essential Guide to Prescription Drug profiles. Patient and family-centered care are key concepts I believe in and I give you the information you NEED to take control of your health and the health of your family! Remember, your involvement in your own treatment and recovery WILL make a difference! Insist that YOU and YOUR Family are the centers of the medical team–become an informed, educated patient!

I’ll show you how and keep you up to date as the research and medicines change!

All the best,

Dr. Jim

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