Mumbai, July 19: Cardiologists are witnessing a disturbing trend wherein young smokers are being diagnosed with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) that can lead to serious consequences like gangrene, or even death. PVD includes blockage of arteries in parts of the body other than the heart.
“Arteries in the legs become narrow, leading to a lack of blood supply ,” says Hemant Deshmukh, radiologist at KEM Hospital. “If left untreated, those parts of the limb deprived of blood start to die down and eventually need to be amputated,” he says. Difficulty in walking due to acute pain in the legs is common.
Forty-year-old Pritesh Joshi (name changed) was saved a foot-amputation after doctors at KEM performed angioplasty on the clogged arteries in his leg, last Saturday. Angioplasty, as a procedure, usually clears cardiac blockages, but in this case it saved Pritesh’s leg. Balloon angioplasty, wherein a 20cm long balloon can be used to open the arteries, has proved to be a life-saver in PVD cases. “Angioplasty can increase the blood supply to affected areas and prevent amputation,” said Deshmukh.
He adds that smokers are two-and-half times more likely to develop PVD than someone who has never smoked. “And, smoking with diabetics can be a lethal combination,” he says. Cardiologist Gireesh Warwadekar says that timely intervention is the key.
Interventional cardiologist of Lilavati Hospital, Dr Vijay Bang, says that there is a significant increase in the number of people suffering from PVD between the age-group of 30-45 years. It is believed that close to 20 million Indians are suffering from PVD, of which about 70 per cent of them suffer from lower limb PVD. Roughly, more than 325 people in Mumbai are diagnosed with PVD every month. Experts also suggest that as much as 73 per cent of PVD cases are made up of men, while women constitute the rest.
Bang added as much as 50 per cent of those suffering from coronary artery disease may suffer from PVD.
–Agencies