BeeHealthy
Timely Hints for a Healthy Lifestyle

Knowing the

symptoms of PAD

Many Americans assume their aches and pains are just common signs of growing older.

Frequent leg pain and cramping that make it hard to walk can often be confused with common conditions such as arthritis or muscle strain.

These symptoms, however, may also be signs of peripheral artery disease, a chronic condition in which leg arteries become narrowed or clogged due to the formation of plaque.

A diagnosis of PAD may be a warning sign of a similar problem in the arteries that lead to the heart or brain. If the arteries supplying blood to the heart or brain get significantly blocked, it may lead to a heart attack or stroke.

In fact, those who have PAD are at more than double the risk of having a heart attack or stroke than those without the disease.

"Many patients come to me complaining of leg pain, which they may mistake for arthritic pain or old age," said Dr. Peter Sheehan, director of the Diabetes Center of Greater New York, Cabrini Medical Center.

"Most patients I diagnose are not even aware of PAD and its associated risk for heart attack or stroke," Sheehan said.

People may be at risk for PAD if they experience one or more of the following risk factors:

+Age 50 years or older and one or more of the following: +Have high blood pressure +Have high cholesterol +Have diabetes

+Smoke or used to smoke

+Have a personal or family history of heart attack or stroke

+Age 70 years or older

+Even those who do not have any of these risk factors may still be at risk for the disease.

Many people diagnosed with PAD do not have any of the noticeable symptoms, such as leg pain or cramping.

In fact, nearly 50 percent of people with PAD do not have any recognizable symptoms. Those who fall into any of the mentioned risk categories should talk to a doctor even if they have not experienced any symptoms.

People who are at risk for the disease should obtain an early diagnosis. Getting diagnosed and taking healthy steps are relatively easy.

For more information, call the Buffalo Wellness Institute at 851-4052. Poison prevention week

begins on March 18

Approximately 85,000 children are hospitalized each year due to unintentional poisonings.

More than 90 percent of these poisonings occur in the home, and most result from the ingestion of common household products.

In recognition of National Poison Prevention Week, March 18-24, TOPS Markets and Martin's Super Food Stores want to emphasize the responsibility of parents, grandparents and other caregivers in preventing poisonings at home.

National Poison Prevention Week, the third week in March each year, is designated to highlight the dangers of poisonings and how to prevent them.

Free Children's Poison Prevention Activity Books will be available at all TOPS/Martin's pharmacies and include information to help educate children about the dangers of poisons.

Parents need to be watchful when household chemicals or drugs are being used because many poisoning incidents occur when adults are using a product but are distracted for a few minutes.

In addition, TOPS/Martin's will be distributing stickers to go on or near telephones with the Poison Control Hotline phone number, 1-800-222-1222.

TOPS/Martin's is partnering with Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo to hold general information sessions throughout National Poison Prevention Week at 10 of its store pharmacies for customers to ask questions about poison prevention.

The schedule is as follows:

+March 18 - 7200 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Niagara Falls, 9 a.m.-noon, and at 890 Young St., Tonawanda, 1-4 p.m.

+March 19 - 3865 Union Road, Cheektowaga, 9 a.m.-noon, and at 355 Orchard Park Road, West Seneca, 1-4 p.m.

+March 21 - 2351 Maple Road, Amherst, 9 a.m.-noon, and at 3201 Southwestern Blvd., Orchard Park, 1-4 p.m.

+March 23 - 6150 South Park, and at 6914 Erie Road, Derby, 1-4 p.m.

+March 24 - 2101 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, 9 a.m.-noon, and at 1275 Jefferson Road, Buffalo, 1-4 p.m.

For more information on National Poison Prevention Week, visit the national Web site at www. poisonprevention. org.