I have been having pain in my left calf when I walk. My doctor told me I have a blockage in my leg artery, and said he can put a stent in the blockage. I heard that this comes back after a stent, so should I do this procedure?
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is blockages in the arteries outside of the heart, including the carotid arteries in the neck which cause stroke, aneursyms of the aorta, and blockages in the arteries in the legs. Smoking is a common risk factor for PAD. Treatment of PAD has improved over time, and
Understanding Cholesterol Levels
by Dean Heller MD March 3rd, 2013 | Ask the Doctor
I saw a local news segment that it was American Heart Month, and the area hospital was screening cholesterol levels for people. Why do you need the cholesterol level, and how is that linked to heart problems?
Having high cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for coronary artery disease, the most common heart problem in America. This disease causes over a half a million heart attacks each year in the US. Cholesterol is a fatty, waxy substance, and there are multiple different cholesterol particle types. The most important one that causes heart disease is the LDL, or the
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Having high cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for coronary artery disease, the most common heart problem in America. This disease causes over a half a million heart attacks each year in the US. Cholesterol is a fatty, waxy substance, and there are multiple different cholesterol particle types. The most important one that causes heart disease is the LDL, or the