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Heart of Healthy You
Blockages Aren’t Just in the Heart
Six years ago, Jack Callery was surprised to discover he had four blocked arteries near his heart. After bypass surgery, the Bethlehem Township man resolved to take charge of his health, and was quickly back on the golf course.
Fast-forward to 2007. Callery, now 61, was feeling great—except for the pain in his calves during workouts and golf games. A simple test comparing blood pressure in the arms and legs revealed the problem: his leg arteries were severely blocked, robbing his muscles of the blood supply they needed.
Callery’s earlier and more recent health problems were caused by the same thing: vascular disease.
The vascular system is made up of the vessels that carry blood throughout the body. “The most common type of vascular disease is atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque inside an artery that affects blood flow,” says internal medicine physician Mark Kender, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “If you have atherosclerosis in one area of the body, you probably have it in others.”
The warning signs of atherosclerosis differ depending on where the blockage is located (see list, above). By the time you notice symptoms, though, the condition already may be serious. “That’s why it’s important to address the risk factors you can control,” Kender says.
“If the blockages aren’t life-threatening, we usually can manage the condition by addressing the risk factors—for example, helping the patient improve his diet and fitness level,” says Kender’s colleague, cardiologist Anthony Urbano, M.D. When atherosclerosis causes a heart attack or stroke, quick action is needed to bypass or open the blocked arteries.
The location of the blockage determines the kind of surgery. Some arteries can be unclogged with a tiny inflatable balloon (angio-plasty) and held open with a stent. That’s how Callery’s left leg was repaired. The remaining blockage in his right leg, Urbano says, can be opened using new laser technology (available at Lehigh Valley Hosptial) that vaporizes the plaque.
With a healthy heart and improved blood flow, Callery says, “I’ve noticed a dramatic improvement. I can walk without pain, and I feel like the luckiest guy on the planet.”
Want to Know More? Click here for information on vascular screenings. or call 610-402-CARE.
Published from Healthy You Magazine, May-June 2008
This page last updated 4/23/08 03:47 PM
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