How to Walk Effectively To Improve Circulation

When your physician says "Walking is the best medicine" for treating Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.), they're right. P.A.D. is defined by a narrowing of the arteries, mainly in the legs, due to plaque build-up. When flow isrestricted, muscles, organs, and tissue are starved of critical nutrients, including oxygen. This may cause symptoms, such as leg pain and cramping when walking (claudication). Even worse, it could prevent the healing of sores on your feet, leading to ischemia, meaning tissue loss. Wounds need oxygen to heal. Your body does have a back-up system. It's the collateral network, known as your body's "natural bypass." During this episode, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips talk to Interventional Radiologist Dr. Lorenzo Patrone, 2022 European PatientChampion and 2020 Global Vascular Doctor of the Year, about why walking is the best medicine for peripheral artery disease and other circulation issues. Mass General Hospital Vascular Surgeon Dr. Anahita Dua also shareshow to walk effectively to wake up and grow your collateral network to help improve circulation without intervention. In the third segment, a P.A.D. patient shares how he had a second opinion from First Coast Cardiovascular Institute Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Yazan Khatab, who saved his leg after his previous physician told him amputation was the only option because he would make more money versus performing multiple angiograms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.