Ask our physician (Summer 2010)

I have a lot of pain, fatigue and heaviness in my legs when I walk. Should I chalk this up to old age, or is it something I should have checked out?
-Suzanna R., Vincentown

If you're experiencing leg pain when walking, I recommend you come to Deborah Heart and Lung Center for a checkup. It could be a sign of peripheral artery disease (PAD), a vascular disease that can affect the legs. Between 8 million to 12 million Americans have PAD, and many of them may never be diagnosed. Left untreated, PAD can progress to the point where amputation may be required. If, combined with your leg pain, you have risk factors including smoking, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and a family history of PAD, you should definitely come in for an evaluation. The initial test to check for PAD, an ankle-brachial index measurement, is fairly simple. The results will tell whether you may need additional testing.

-Richard Kovach, M.D., Chair of the Department of Endovascular Medicine at Deborah Heart and Lung Center. Dr. Kovach is currently accepting new patients. To learn more or make an appointment with Dr. Kovach, call 1-800-555-1990.

Do you have a question for a Deborah Heart and Lung Center physician? E-mail us at askaquestion@deborah.org.