Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
Symptoms of a stroke may include:
- Vision loss described as a “shade coming down over the eye.”
- Slurred speech or difficulty getting words out.
- Facial droop.
- Weakness and/or numbness of an arm or leg.
Symptoms that last less than 24 hours are usually called a TIA or "mini-stroke." It is a warning sign that a potentially disabling or life-threatening stroke may occur.
What causes a stroke?
Most strokes occur because a small piece of plaque or “hardening of the artery” became dislodged and traveled to a part of the brain. The portion of the brain affected by the plaque will determine the symptoms.
What are the symptoms of peripheral arterial disease?
Typically, persons with PAD complain of pain, cramping or discomfort in the calves or thighs when walking. These symptoms are relieved when the person rests and occur each time the activity is resumed. These lifestyle limiting symptoms may keep people from doing the activities they love such as golf, walking or shopping.
What is an aneurysm?
An aneurysm is like a “blister on an inner tube.” It usually affects the lower part of the aorta, the main pipe from the heart. If it becomes too enlarged, the risk of a life-threatening rupture exits. The key is to keep blood pressure under control and have it monitored with ultrasound on a regular basis. Because aneurysms run in families, if a close blood relative has an aneurysm, initial screening is important.
What treatment options are available for arterial disease?
A number of options are available, many of which are “minimally invasive” requiring no surgery, but instead, using a series of catheters, balloons and stents to open up the blockages. All options will be discussed with you with recommendations for those procedures which are the most effective and safest.