A hidden message in your legs?
A Queensland-based health researcher has warned that up to one million Australians may be suffering from a little-known vascular condition that greatly increases their risk of heart disease and stroke.
Dr Simon Green from the Queensland University of Technology school of Human Movement Studies has warned that nine out of ten sufferers of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) - a common disorder occurring when arteries in the legs become clogged with fat - are not aware of their condition.
"PAD occurs when fatty plaque builds up inside arteries, particularly above and behind the knees," said Dr Green.
"The first symptom is often an aching or cramping of calf muscles during walking, followed by relief when resting."
Dr Green said this pain was often dismissed by sufferers as a result of exercise or ageing rather than being taken seriously as it would be if it was a pain in the chest.
"Too many people ignore the initial symptoms of PAD because the pains subside and they aren't aware of the long term health implications," he said.
"As well as the disability created by PAD it can sometimes be an early warning of potential heart disease or stroke," said Dr Green, adding that PAD sufferers were six times more likely to die of heart disease than non-sufferers.
He estimated that almost one million Australians could have PAD but only about 10% of them were likely to know they had it.
This was partly because despite being known about since the 1940s there was a lack of recognition by health researchers and the government about the disabling effects of the early stages of PAD. In its later stages, PAD leads to 100,000 amputations each year in the US alone.
"We need to look at developing effective awareness and rehabilitation programs to stop PAD getting to the point where hospitalisation and even amputation are required," Dr Green said.
He said people who suspect they may have PAD should contact their GP immediately. If diagnosed, they may be eligible to participate in QUT's research into the effect of diet and exercise on rehabilitating PAD sufferers.