Your Weight Affects Your Vascular Function

People with obesity are known to be at increased risk for a host of medical issues. A new study shows obesity may also increase the chance of developing peripheral artery disease.

Peripheral Arterial Disease, or PAD, is the narrowing of the arteries to the arms or legs. It occurs when atherosclerotic plaque adheres to the lining of the arteries, which then blocks the path of blood flow. PAD can cause poor circulation and the decrease in blood to your arms or legs may result in pain, non-healing infections, or wounds that can even result in amputations. PAD is also a well-known marker of atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary (heart) arteries and nearly 40% of people with PAD are at risk of having a heart attack within five years.

Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore analyzed data on nearly 14,000 black and white men and women enrolled in the ongoing Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, which began in 1987. They found that people who were obese were 1.5 times more likely to develop peripheral artery disease with critical limb ischemia than those who were normal weight.

“With increasing obesity, you have an increased risk of [both diseases], which means an increased risk of limb loss,” said Dr. Caitlin Hicks, the study’s lead author. “Everybody knows about diabetes and hypertension and their relationship to obesity, but now we’re connecting the risk of lower extremity issues to obesity.”

Dr. Hicks said their findings show why it is important for doctors to advise patients with peripheral artery disease who are obese to lose weight. But she admitted that losing weight can be particularly hard to accomplish for those with the condition.

“It’s a vicious cycle, because as people get obese [and develop peripheral artery disease], they have trouble walking … which makes it harder to lose weight, because they’re not active,” said Hicks, an assistant professor of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Coronary artery disease develops when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become stiff and narrow. Peripheral artery disease affects the arteries that supply blood to the arms, legs or feet and often leads to pain or cramping in the legs or hips while walking or climbing stairs.

At least 6.8 million Americans ages 40 and older have peripheral artery disease. If left untreated, peripheral artery disease can advance to critical limb ischemia, a severe blockage in the arteries that, in some cases, can only be treated by having the affected limb amputated. Experts say previous studies have found that smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol increase a person’s risk of developing peripheral artery disease. Still, the role that obesity plays in the disease is clear.

Reducing weight will impact the risk of peripheral artery disease, as it does with other cardiovascular diseases. Many patients with advanced peripheral artery disease are awaiting surgery to amputate a limb. There are steps you can take to prevent PAD and limb loss now. Literally, steps. Take more of them.

Schedule a consultation with the Vascular and Vein center today to learn more about how your weight affects your vascular and whole-body wellness.

We have options to help you reduce weight and improve your vascular function and blood flow. Your overall wellness starts in your veins.

The Vascular and Vein Center at Gulfcoast Surgeons is one of the first and most respected vein clinics in Southwest Florida. Our surgeons, Dr. Abraham Sadighi and Dr. Johan Escribano have performed thousands of vascular and vein surgeries over the past 28 years. We focus on diseases of the vascular system that can range from harmless but unattractive spider veins to dangerous conditions such as peripheral artery disease. Our caring and dedicated team will help you identify problems and offer the best treatment options for you at any of our three locations.

Call the Vascular & Vein Center at Gulfcoast Surgeons today at (239) 344-7061 to make an appointment with a vascular surgeon specializing in arteries and veins.

Vascular & Vein Center at Gulfcoast Surgeons
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References:
Associations of Obesity With Incident Hospitalization Related to Peripheral Artery Disease and Critical Limb Ischemia in the ARIC Study
Caitlin W. Hicks MD, MS , Chao Yang MS , Chiadi E. Ndumele MD, MHS , Aaron R. Folsom MD, MPH , Gerardo Heiss PhD , James H. Black III MD, FACS , Elizabeth Selvin PhD, MPH , and Kunihiro Matsushita MD, PhD kmatsus5@jhu.edu
Matsushita, C. (2018, August 9). Associations of Obesity With Incident Hospitalization Related to Peripheral Artery Disease and Critical Limb Ischemia in the ARIC Study. Ahajournals. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.118.008644