For Immediate Release
August 16, 2007
Contact: Donna Sellmann
(732) 530-2282
dsellmann@meridianhealth.com

RIVERVIEW EXPERT WARNS LEG PAIN COULD BE SIGN OF SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITION

Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) linked to stroke, heart attack.

Red Bank, NJ - It's easy to dismiss troublesome leg pain as a part of the aging process, or even arthritis. But pain that occurs in your leg muscles, not in the joints like arthritis, shouldn't be ignored. This pain could actually be the sign of a condition called peripheral vascular disease (PVD), sometimes referred to as peripheral arterial disease.

PVD is a common blood-vessel disease that is linked to stroke and heart attack. It usually occurs because leg arteries have become narrowed or clogged and are restricting proper blood flow. Arteries typically narrow because of a buildup of fatty deposits.

According to Stephen Kolakowski, Jr., M.D., a board certified endovascular surgeon at Riverview Medical Center, "PVD is a disease without many symptoms." In fact, some experts have pegged it as a women's health concern because many women don't show symptoms or often write them off. "Early diagnosis is essential to minimize one's risk for future complications including stroke, heart attack, and limb loss," he says.

Dr. Kolakowski stresses the importance of recognizing the symptoms of PVD and urges those who experience such symptoms to see their physician immediately. Call your doctor if you experience:
- pain, cramping, or fatigue in the legs or hips while walking that subsides after a few minutes of rest
- foot sores that won't heal
- aching in the foot while at rest
- a leg or foot that feels colder than the rest of the body.

A noninvasive vascular test, called the ankle-brachial index, is performed in the doctor's office and can detect PVD. Your doctor will decide if it's right for you based on your symptoms and risk factors. Risk factors include being age 50 or older; having diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol; and smoking. "With breakthrough technologies and the skilled capability of Riverview's team, PVD can be accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated," says Kolakowski.

In most cases, PVD can be managed with lifestyle changes or drug therapy. In advanced cases, surgical and endovascular procedures can help open or bypass blocked arteries. To find a Riverview physician who specializes in endovascular and vascular surgery, call for a free physician referral at 1-800-560-9990.

Riverview Medical Center, a member of the Meridian Health Family, is a non-profit community hospital located in Red Bank, New Jersey, providing health care programs and services in all major medical disciplines, including maternity; oncology; orthopedics and rehabilitation; general, neuro, thoracic and vascular surgery; cardiology; renal dialysis; diabetes management; and emergency and critical care services. Riverview?s Booker Cancer Center is an affiliate of the renowned Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, and Riverview is home to the only fully accredited acute comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation center in Monmouth County. In addition, its Women Center and Childbirth Center specialize in the full spectrum of needs for the body, mind and spirit. For more information about Riverview Medical Center and Meridian Health, please call the Meridian Health Line at 1-800-560-9990 or visit www.riverviewmedicalcenter.com.

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