THE FOLLOWING POINTS ARE SHARED FROM THE

“TAKE A STAND AGAINST AMPUTATION WEBSITE”

Cardio-Vascular Systems Inc (CSI). To learn more, click on the link below.

https://standagainstamputation.com/peripheral-artery-disease/

Recognized for her expertise in treating patients suffering from Peripheral Arterial Disease, Dr Kokinos has been chosen by Cardio Vascular Systems Inc. (CSI) as one of Silicon Valley’s leading experts in the diagnosis and treatment of PAD. In recognition of this expertise Dr Kokinos and South Bay Vascular Center have been honored on CSI’s website in their Physician Locator Section as one of  Silicon Valley’s leading Peripheral Arterial Disease experts. https://csi360.com/covid_pad_locator/

What is Peripheral Arterial Disease? (PAD).

When you have PAD, your arteries are narrowed, restricting the blood flow to your legs, feet and/or toes. Symptoms include aches, numbness and burning sensations. If left untreated, things can get rapidly worse, including the possibility that his disease could lead to having one’s leg amputated.⁹ PAD is the biggest disease that most people have never heard about. It affects more than 18 million people – more than cancer, stroke and congestive heart failure.⁴ 

Are You At Risk for Peripheral Arterial Disease? (PAD)

Smoking: Of all the risk factors for peripheral artery disease (PAD), smoking is considered the most powerful predictor of PAD.

Diabetes: Diabetes is a powerful risk factor of peripheral artery disease (PAD). One in three people over the age of 50 with diabetes is likely to have PAD.⁴⁰ People with diabetes and PAD have a 10 times greater risk of amputation than patients without diabetes.¹²

Chronic Kidney Disease: Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) are at a greater risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD).

• Researchers estimate that 24% to 37% of patients with CKD also have PAD.⁴⁴
• 26 million American adults have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and millions of others are at increased risk of the disease.⁴⁵
• PAD is an often overlooked and under-diagnosed condition in patients with CKD.^44,46

Why it is important to diagnose and treat the early symptoms of Peripheral Arterial Disease? (PAD)

Left untreated, peripheral arterial disease can lead to amputation. In fact, studies have shown that among patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI), the worst form of PAD, AMPUTATION IS ESTIMATED TO BE ~25%.⁵ 

Symptoms that may be signs you have PAD.

• Is it painful to walk?

Have you noticed pain in your leg when you walk? Is it more than just feeling tired when walking?  Peripheral artery disease (PAD) can cause leg pain while walking. Aches and pains from PAD are the result of narrowed, hardened arteries in the legs, limiting blood flow to your legs and feet. When there isn’t enough blood in your muscles and you try to move them, the pain in your leg can be severe. The discomfort can cause you to favor one of your legs while walking to avoid the pain.¹⁹ The pain can worsen when you’re active and decrease when you’re at rest.²³ But you know it can come back.

• Have toes or feet that look pale, discolored or blue?

When the blood flow to your legs, feet and toes is restricted – as it is with PAD – the skin in these areas can’t get enough nutrients. You may notice your skin feels drier than normal, and is an unusual color. Parts of your skin could appear to be more red when you’re sitting or standing. Or, your skin might have an unhealthy paleness when your leg is elevated.

• Does leg pain frequently interrupt your sleep?

Are you in the habit of hanging your foot off the edge of the bed to relieve the discomfort? Is sleeping upright in a chair the only way you can get rest? These might be more than normal effects of getting older. Pain in your legs and feet at night, or when you’re trying to sleep, is a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). And nighttime leg pain could mean you have the worst form of PAD – critical limb ischemia (CLI). Are you in the habit of hanging your foot off the edge of the bed to relieve the discomfort? Is sleeping upright in a chair the only way you can get rest? These might be more than normal effects of getting older. Pain in your legs and feet at night, or when you’re trying to sleep, is a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). And nighttime leg pain could mean you have the worst form of PAD – critical limb ischemia (CLI).

• Have sores or wounds on your toes, feet, or legs that heal slowly or not at all?

One of the first signs of the worst form of PAD, peripheral artery disease (PAD) called critical limb ischemia (CLI), can be a nonhealing wound or ulcer. Pay attention to lingering cuts, scratches or sores on your toes, feet or legs. If these wounds don’t seem to be getting better, it could be serious. If you have PAD, the arteries in your legs have narrowed and hardened, limiting blood flow to your feet and legs. This makes it harder for your body to heal itself. Blood cells that help you heal and fight infection struggle to reach the wound because the blood flow is so restricted. People with PAD and diabetes are especially at risk.

• Have a leg or foot that feels colder than the other?

Good circulation is important and it isn’t something you should ignore. Your blood helps regulate many things in your body. If blood is not easily reaching your toes and feet, those areas will experience a drop in temperature. If you have PAD, the arteries in your legs have narrowed and hardened. This limits blood flow to your legs and feet and can make them feel cold.

• Have thick, yellow toenails that aren’t growing?

Changes due to PAD can include thicker toenails and loss of hair on your leg, feet or toes. As you get older, you might notice changes to the look and feel of your skin and think these changes are a normal part of the aging process. But these changes could be a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD)

• Painful Heavy Legs

Unexplained pain or a feeling of heaviness in your legs could be caused by narrowed, hardened arteries from PAD. It may mean you have limited blood flow to your legs and feet. In the worst form of PAD, called critical limb ischemia (CLI), the obstructed blood flow is so considerable and widespread that the pain can be intolerable

• Numbness or Burning in Your Legs

If you notice a strange tingling in your foot, or you feel like your entire leg is on fire, pay attention to what your body is telling you and see a health care professional. Don’t ignore these kinds of unusual sensations, especially if they get progressively worse or more painful – they could be signs of a larger issue that requires a doctor’s attention. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) can cause uncomfortable numbness or burning sensations in your feet and legs. The restricted blood flow brought on by PAD can harm your body in a variety of ways, including damaging your nerves, which transmit messages between your brain and the rest of your body.

IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW SUFFERS FROM ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS ABOVE, CALL OUR OFFICE AT 408-376-3626 TODAY TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ONE OF OUR PHYSICIANS.

TAKE A STAND AGAINST AMPUTATION!

Intelligence? Experience? Compassion?

Dr. Polly Kokinos checks all those boxes (and more!).

• She finished high school at 14, Barnard University at 16 and and Columbia Medical school at 20. 
• At 29 Dr. Kokinos finished her vascular surgery training and became the youngest board-certified vascular surgeon in the country.
• She founded South Bay Vascular in 1997 and has devoted her entire career to her local community as a private practice doctor.
• She’s performed more than 20,000 vein procedures in the past 24 years.
• She’s is a female business owner who has overcome the challenges of working in a “man’s” world.  In fact, Dr. Kokinos has created the largest independent vascular surgery practice in Silicon Valley.
• She’s recognized as the leading limb salvage and wound healing surgeon in Silicon Valley. When it comes to your health, it’s not just experience that counts, it’s the right experience that matters. THE “RIGHT” EXPERIENCE COUNTS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH
• She’s spent her entire career in private practice and didn’t just start her practice after losing their way in a managed care environment.
• RESULTS: Here’s what Dr. Kokinos’ patients have said about their care over the past 30 days.

No wonder more Silicon Valley physicians refer their patients to “Dr. K.” than to any other vascular surgeon in Silicon Valley!

If you or anyone you know suffers from a circulation related illness, we can help!

Call us at 408-376-3626 to schedule an appointment.

American University of Antigua Medical School Honors South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute as a Clinical Campus

Today, South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute is pleased to announce another success in its legacy as Silicon Valley’s most trusted independent vascular surgery practice. Genesis Medicus and American University of Antigua Medical School are honored to announce that Dr Kokinos has been appointed to their clinical faculty in Vascular Surgery.  Recognized as Silicon Valley’s most trusted independent vascular surgeon, Dr Kokinos and South Bay Vascular Center will now serve as a clinical campus for American University of Antigua medical school students.  In this capacity 4th year AUA medical students will train at South Bay Vascular Center as part of their clinical rotations in Vascular Surgery.

Inspiring The Next Generation of Medical Professionals

Through this appointment, South Bay Vascular continues their commitment to the next generation of physicians.  Earlier this year South Bay Vascular Center celebrated the 6th anniversay of their Medical Gap Year Internship program.  Dr Kokinos is immensely proud of the fact that her program has seen 7 of it’s graduates matriculate to US Medical, D.O.  and Nursing Schools. With the announcement of this most recent honor, South Bay Vascular hopes to inspire the next generation of medical students to become Vascular Surgeons.

South Bay Vascular Center is likewise honored that other Vascular Surgery Practices in the area have been inspired by our medical gap year program by starting similiar pre-med training programs at their own practices. By announcing similar programs in recognition of the success of Dr Kokinos’ groundbreaking work in this area, we are deeply honored to have been an example for them to follow.

South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute

For 24 years Dr Kokinos and the Staff at South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute have dedicated themselves to providing cutting edge, independent vascular care to Silicon Valley patients.

Cutting edge care, delivered in a state of the art outpatient surgery center dedicated entirely to the practice of vascular surgery, is just one of the reasons why patients choose Dr Kokinos to treat their their circulation related illnesses. Having performed over 20,000 vein procedures, Dr Kokinos is Silicon Valley’s most TRUSTED independent vascular surgeon.  Recognized as the regional expert in the field of minimially invasive peripheral revascularizations in the outpatient setting, Dr Kokinos has performed more pedal access  peripheral vascular interventions than any other vascular surgeon in Silicon Valley. In her role as a leader in this field,  she has also trained many local vascular surgeons in these procedures as more and more hospital based vascular surgeons leave regional hospital systems to start their own independent vascular surgery practices.

South Bay Vascular’s outstanding reputation as a leading treatment center for Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) and Iliac Vein Compression https://www.southbayvascular.com/leg-swelling/ have led patients to Dr Kokinos’ practice from throughout the United States when previous efforts at treating their conditions at other centers have failed. THE “RIGHT” EXPERIENCE COUNTS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH

Congratulations to Dr Kokinos and her team at South Bay Vascular on this most recent accomplishment and to their long term commitment to the communities of the South Bay.