EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) – The heart is an important and complex organ that supplies blood to the body with the help of two delivery systems.

Dr. Michelle Barsoum is a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Health System who also specializes in vascular medicine.

He said when talking about heart health, it’s important to activate the arterial system.

“The heart pumps blood through several pipes and tubes. These arteries run through every part of the body,” Dr. Barsoom said.

It is the peripheral arterial system.

Dr. Barsoom said the coronary artery system is well known because of its connection to the heart.

But lack of awareness can be dangerous.

“Heart disease is on the rise and people are coming into the clinic. And because people don’t know they have the disease, they have fewer blood vessels,” Dr. Barsoom said.

The two go hand in hand.

Dr Barsoom said a symptom was pain in the calf, which could spread to the thigh and eventually the hip.

Neck pain may also be a possibility.

If the brain is affected, vision may deteriorate and speech may become difficult.

This is all because the arterial system supplies blood to all of these locations.

These symptoms can act as red flags that mean your system is clogged.

“If it’s in the neck, it can cause a stroke. If it’s in the heart, it can cause a heart attack,” Dr. Barsoom said.

He said the annual number of cases is not clear because most doctors don’t think to test for problems in the peripheral arterial system.

“Estimates are underestimates because we don’t know the true numbers. We need to continue to make people aware of that, both patients and health care providers,” Dr. Barsoom said.

But there are also advantages.

“Good news. Medications that are effective for the heart are also effective for the legs, and they can be effective here as well. As you know, treatments for heart disease are improving year by year. Even if you get a blockage in your legs, you can die. “No,” Dr. Barsoom said.

In cases like this, assertiveness is important.

If you notice anything unusual, Dr. Barsoom said, order an ultrasound to check the arteries in your legs, neck, and arms. He recommends getting a heart check if you experience pain in both your neck and extremities.

“But people who have blockages in their legs or here die from heart disease, even if they don’t have chest pain. You can also be silent,” Dr. Barsoom said.

He also recommends listening to your body.

“There’s denial, there’s denial, and then the stroke happens. And we missed it. We need to catch these symptoms early,” Dr. Barsoom said.

He suggests quitting tobacco use, either by smoking or vaping. He can also eat healthier and pay attention to his family history.

Annual physical exams are also important, as doctors recommend testing for risk factors that can lead to vascular and heart disease.

If you can prevent one, you can prevent the other.

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