Does your leg hurt or become cramped while your walk or climb stairs? When you stop to rest, the pain may go away. But it comes back when you start to move again. This pain cycle is called intermittent claudication. It can be a sign of Peripheral Vascular Disease, or PVD (also known as "poor circulation"). With PVD, the vessels that that carry blood to your lower body become narrowed or blocked. This makes it harder for blood to reach your leg. If PVD is not treated, leg and foot tissue may die. This is called gangrene and may lead to amputation. PAD/PVD - Peripheral Artery Disease / Peripheral Vascular Disease affects more than 10 million Americans each year and is seriously under-diagnosed and often mistaken for arthritis.

The risk factors include:

• cigarette smoking
• obesity
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• physical inactivity
• elevated cholesterol
• advanced age
• family history of PAD
• cardiovascular disease or stroke

Tri-City Medical Center offers multiple support groups, community education events, workshops and seminars to meet the various healthcare needs of North County residents. Topics range from treating childhood illnesses to dealing with depression to reducing the risk of heart disease. Speakers include physicians and other experienced healthcare professionals.