Some of the symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can include pain, weakness, numbness, loss of hair on your legs, bluish-colored skin on the feet or calves, poor toenail growth, pain or cramps in your legs when walking, and wounds on your feet and legs that are slow to heal. To properly diagnose this vascular condition, your podiatrist may need to know your Ankle Brachial Index (ABI). Simply put, the ABI compares the blood pressure in the arm with the blood pressure in the ankle. Blood pressure during the heart’s contracting/pumping (systolic) phase is slightly higher in the ankle than it is in the arm for healthy people. Determining the ABI is a very simple and non-invasive procedure, using just a blood pressure cuff and a Doppler instrument. The patient lies down and rests for ten minutes. Then, blood pressure is taken at the upper arm, followed by the ankle. The ankle’s blood pressure is then divided by the arm’s blood pressure. An ABI ratio between 1.0 to 1.4 is considered normal. An ABI ratio of 0.9 or less usually indicates PAD—with moderate cases typically ranging between 0.4 to 0.7, and more severe cases falling below 0.4. If you are experiencing any symptoms of PAD, contact a podiatrist right away for a full examination and to see if your ABI should be analyzed.
Vascular testing plays an important part in diagnosing disease like peripheral artery disease. If you have symptoms of peripheral artery disease, or diabetes, consult with Dr. Christopher Hendrix from Bartlett, Tennessee. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
What Is Vascular Testing?
Vascular testing checks for how well blood circulation is in the veins and arteries. This is most often done to determine and treat a patient for peripheral artery disease (PAD), stroke, and aneurysms. Podiatrists utilize vascular testing when a patient has symptoms of PAD or if they believe they might. If a patient has diabetes, a podiatrist may determine a vascular test to be prudent to check for poor blood circulation.
How Is it Conducted?
Most forms of vascular testing are non-invasive. Podiatrists will first conduct a visual inspection for any wounds, discoloration, and any abnormal signs prior to a vascular test.
The most common tests include:
These tests are safe, painless, and easy to do. Once finished, the podiatrist can then provide a diagnosis and the best course for treatment.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Memphis and Bartlett, TN . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Read more about Vascular Testing in Podiatry
While most people are somewhat familiar with blisters due to having at least one in their lifetime, here are some things you may not know about these “irritating” fluid-filled bubbles. Blisters fall into one of three categories typically: clear, blood, or infected. Clear blisters are one of the most common types of blisters, and are filled with a clear serum that protects the underlying skin from further damage. When blood vessels are damaged along with skin, the blister that forms may have blood mixed in with the serum. If a blister becomes infected, it can fill with white or yellow pus. Sudden, highly concentrated friction from ill-fitting shoes rubbing against skin on the foot will typically cause a blister, while repetitive, less intense friction will typically cause corns or calluses. Intense temperatures can also cause blisters to form, as in the case of second-degree frostbite or a bad sunburn. Chicken pox, shingles, eczema and other medical conditions may cause blisters as well as exposure to certain chemicals that create an allergic reaction in the skin. If you have developed a blister, do not pop it. If it does not improve, gets worse, or looks like it might be infected, seek the care of a podiatrist.
Blisters may appear as a single bubble or in a cluster. They can cause a lot of pain and may be filled with pus, blood, or watery serum. If your feet are hurting, contact Dr. Christopher Hendrix of Bartlett, Tennessee. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
Foot Blisters
Foot blisters are often the result of friction. This happens due to the constant rubbing from shoes, which can lead to pain.
What Are Foot Blisters?
A foot blister is a small fluid-filled pocket that forms on the upper-most layer of the skin. Blisters are filled with clear fluid and can lead to blood drainage or pus if the area becomes infected.
Symptoms
(Blister symptoms may vary depending on what is causing them)
Prevention & Treatment
In order to prevent blisters, you should be sure to wear comfortable shoes with socks that cushion your feet and absorb sweat. Breaking a blister open may increase your chances of developing an infection. However, if your blister breaks, you should wash the area with soap and water immediately and then apply a bandage to the affected area. If your blisters cause severe pain it is important that you call your podiatrist right away.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Memphis and Bartlett, TN . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Read more about Blisters
Your feet are covered most of the day. If you're diabetic, periodic screening is important for good health. Numbness is often a sign of diabetic foot and can mask a sore or wound.
As they learn to walk and move around more independently, babies and toddlers face an increased risk of falling. With this comes the chance for injuries, such as broken ankles, that can affect their mobility and overall health. One of the best ways to prevent falls is to make small changes to the home environment to increase its safety. Keep furniture away from other objects in the room and stop your child from climbing from one piece of furniture to another. Lock windows and balcony entrances and install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs. Remove tripping hazards, like loose rugs and electrical cords, from areas that your child frequents. In the bathroom, keep your child from slipping by using non-slip bath mats. For more information about preventing falls, please consult with a podiatrist.
Preventing falls among the elderly is very important. If you are older and have fallen or fear that you are prone to falling, consult with Dr. Christopher Hendrix from Bartlett, Tennessee. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality advice and care.
Every 11 seconds, an elderly American is being treated in an emergency room for a fall related injury. Falls are the leading cause of head and hip injuries for those 65 and older. Due to decreases in strength, balance, senses, and lack of awareness, elderly persons are very susceptible to falling. Thankfully, there are a number of things older persons can do to prevent falls.
How to Prevent Falls
Some effective methods that older persons can do to prevent falls include:
Falling can be a traumatic and embarrassing experience for elderly persons; this can make them less willing to leave the house, and less willing to talk to someone about their fears of falling. Doing such things, however, will increase the likelihood of tripping or losing one’s balance. Knowing the causes of falling and how to prevent them is the best way to mitigate the risk of serious injury.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Memphis and Bartlett, TN . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Read more about Falls Prevention
