FirstHealth Cardiologist to Speak on Peripheral Arterial Disease
| Date Posted: 10/8/2012
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| Steven J. Filby, M.D. |
RAEFORD – Board certified cardiologist Steven J. Filby, M.D., of FirstHealth Cardiology Services, will lead an educational seminar on peripheral arterial disease at the FirstHealth Raeford Center on Thursday, Oct. 18, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Peripheral arterial disease or PAD refers to the narrowing of the arteries outside of the heart: in the legs, arms, kidneys, brain and so on. The condition affects about eight million Americans, but often goes undiagnosed because many people with PAD have no symptoms.
Typically, the disease affects older individuals, but it can affect individuals of all ages depending on risk factors. In particular, smokers or diabetics can develop PAD in their early 40s.
PAD can indicate system-wide vascular disease and is a risk factor for stroke and heart attack. Since patients with the disease are six to seven times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those without the disease, cholesterol management is a key concern for PAD patients.
“If the public is not aware of peripheral arterial disease, they are probably not being treated appropriately for blood pressure control, perhaps not on aspirin or on the right dose of cholesterol medications,” says Dr. Filby. “In turn, they may be attributing their leg pain to arthritis when it is in fact due to an arterial blockage.”
According to Dr. Filby, PAD is a slow-burning medical emergency that is prevalent and often undiagnosed.
“If you have it, you need to know to get treated before you have a problem like a heart attack, stroke, gangrene or loss of limb,” he says.
The FirstHealth Raeford Center is located at 313 Teal Drive in Raeford. For more information or to register for Dr. Filby’s educational program, please call (800) 213-3284 toll-free. Registration is required.
