What have we learned about heart health? Part 2

• Symptoms of peripheral vascular disease include painful cramping in legs and/or hips after activity (walking, climbing stairs), leg numbness or weakness, coldness or change in color of one  foot or leg (especially when other leg and foot is warmer),  sores on feet or legs that do not heal, hair loss or decreased amount of hair or growth rate of hair on legs and feet, no pulse or a weak pulse in legs or feet, toenails grow slower, erectile dysfunction in men.  Source:  Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Vascular Disease, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peripheral-arterial-disease/DS00

•  Risk factors which we cannot change include our inherited genes, our age and what sex we are.

• Risk factors which we can work with our doctor to improve include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and high blood sugar if we are diabetic. 

• Healthy lifestyle habits include exercising, eating a healthy diet and adding fruits and vegetables into our diet, maintaining a normal weight, controlling how much alcohol we drink, and stopping smoking.  If you feel you need to improve some of your lifestyle behaviors, talk with your doctor and make a plan that you can work to improve your lifestyle.