Friday, November 11, 2016: Resolution Insurance has encouraged more people to seek early medical screening and check-ups given the rising cases of Peripheral Arterial Diseases – a condition that raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Kenyans have been advised to undergo screening for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a lifestyle disease in which a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries restricts blood supply to leg muscles. This is in order to detect it early and avoid debilitating complications. PAD is also known as peripheral vascular disease (PVD).
Speaking during the Resolution Insurance Wellness Summit at the Sarova Panafric Hotel, Resolution Insurance Managing Director Kenya Alice Mwai noted that PAD incidence is on the rise in Kenya and this is consistent with the increased incidence of non-communicable diseases.
“We believe prevention through screening and awareness for our corporate clients is key and a major objective for Resolution Insurance,” she said.
According to Dr. Hardeep Gill the only vascular surgeon in the entire Sub-Saharan Africa, there is an increased risk of PAD among Africans; 10% prevalence amongst Kenyans, rising to 20% for people over the age of 70 years.
Speaking at the Resolution Insurance Wellness Summit, Dr. Hardeep Gill said, the most common symptom of PAD is pain in the legs with exertion such as walking. Patients with a history of vascular diseases, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, high BMI, Cigarette smoking or used to smoke are at a risk of suffering from the disease.
“Physical activity and exercise are important for preventing PAD and for improving the symptoms. Avoid use of tobacco; Cigarette smoking increases the risk of PAD by two to six times and it worsens the symptom and control of high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Severe cases may require surgery to bypass blocked arteries,” he added.
Dr. Gill is a consultant Vascular and General Surgeon qualified from the University Of Cape Town, South Africa. He holds a gold medal in general surgery and performs a wide range of Vascular Surgeries, Venous Surgeries, Dialysis Access Surgeries as well as General Surgeries.