As a part of the fight against Peripheral Arterial disease the Center for Preventive Medicine North Texas sponsored a “Legs for Life” program during the month of September.

Leading the charge on this disease is Dr. Akram Khan medical director and chief of cardiology at the Center for Preventive Medicine North Texas.

“Early detection and management of Peripheral Arterial disease, or PAD’s can prevent the progression of the disease,” Khan, 44, said. “If it is not addressed the disease can often lead to painful walking, gangrene, amputations, heart attack or strokes.”

Medicines to lower cholesterol and other medicines to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in the early stages of the disease can help prevent the disease from becoming worse.

Surgery may be needed if the disease is not discovered early and would be needed if the blood flow is significantly decreased.

“In simple terms PAD is compromised circulation in the lower extremities of the body,” Khan said. “It causes discomfort in the legs when you walk or do any activity.”

He added that the pain ceases when the person is at rest.

“There is a mismatch when you walk or do an activity,” Khan said. “There can be a blockage from the hip to the thighs to the ankles”

The blockage results from a narrowing of the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the legs, abdomen, pelvis, arms or neck. The most common cause of the disease is the buildup of cholesterol, calcium, and other substances on the inside of the arteries especially those arteries feeding the legs.

There a number of signs that may indicate PAD’s. Among them are hair loss on the legs, decreased leg strength and function, poor balance when standing, cold or numb feet or toes and sores or cuts that heal slowly.

“The first goal of treatment is to identify and change lifestyle factors,” Khan said.

Some of the factors that need to be changed include lack of exercise, stopping smoking, and moving away from a high fat diet that could be the cause of the disease. 

Khan has done free screening in the Frisco, Allen and McKinney to help people discover if they have PADs.

The screening test is simple and painless test. The test called an ankle brachial index compares the blood pressure in the legs to the blood pressure in the arms to determine how well the blood is flowing and if further tests are needed.

“This is one of the best preventive initiatives for early detection,” Khan said.

The test can also help to diagnose heart disease, stroke and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysmal.

“If we are able to catch the disease early we will be able to prevent a major disaster like a heart attack of stroke,” Khan said. “Our goal is stop it before it happens.”

The free screenings performed in September will be happening again.

“We are planning more screenings in the future but we haven’t set a date at this time,” Khan said. “We would like to do more in McKinney. If we have senior citizen organizations approach us we would be happy to do it for them.”

According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Web site one in every 20 Americans over the age of 50 has peripheral arterial disease, or P.A.D.  It develops when arteries in your legs become clogged with plaque — fatty deposits that limit blood flow to your legs.  Just like clogged arteries in the heart, clogged arteries in the legs mean you are at risk for having a heart attack or stroke.

Don Hudson, director business development has worked with Khan for 11 years.

“I love him. He is a great doctor and person,” Hudson said. “I have seen him laugh and seen him cry.”

He added that Khan does a large number of charity cases.

“You would be surprised at the number we take,” Hudson said. “He cares about people.”

Rebecca Dawson is the Center for Preventive Medicine’s director and said Khan is a very hard working person.

“He is always out looking for the newest technology that will help his patients,” Dawson said. “He wants to keep them healthier and more educated.”

Khan is from Pakistani but came to the United States when he was 25 years old. He is married to Nandia and has three children a girl, Hebah 13; and boys Arhum age 9 and Yusuf two months old. He has been in McKinney for 12 years