-
Heavy consumption of diet soda can damage teeth as badly as methamphetamine or crack cocaine, a new study contends.More >> Heavy consumption of diet soda can damage teeth as badly as methamphetamine or crack cocaine, a new study contends.More >> Teen birth rates in the United States are dropping sharply, especially among Hispanic teens, according to a new government report.More >> Teen birth rates in the United States are dropping sharply, especially among Hispanic teens, according to a new government report.More >> Kids who eat fast food at least twice a week are 50 percent less likely to use calorie and nutritional information than kids who eat fast food less often.More >> Kids who eat fast food at least twice a week are 50 percent less likely to use calorie and nutritional information than kids who eat fast food less often.More >> The American Cancer Society, which is celebrating on Wednesday a century of fighting a disease once viewed as a death sentence, is making a pledge to put itself out of business.More >> The American Cancer Society, which is celebrating on Wednesday a century of fighting a disease once viewed as a death sentence, is making a pledge to put itself out of business.More >> In the aftermath of this week's deadly tornado, many people in Oklahoma are not only struggling to care for children and relatives, but also their pets.More >> In the aftermath of this week's deadly tornado, many people in Oklahoma are not only struggling to care for children and relatives, but also their pets.More >>
-
Teen birth rates in the United States are dropping sharply, especially among Hispanic teens, according to a new government report.More >> Teen birth rates in the United States are dropping sharply, especially among Hispanic teens, according to a new government report.More >> The overall health of Americans isn't improving much, with about six in 10 people either overweight or obese and large numbers engaging in unhealthy behaviors like smoking, heavy drinking or not exercising.More >> The overall health of Americans isn't improving much, with about six in 10 people either overweight or obese and large numbers engaging in unhealthy behaviors like smoking, heavy drinking or not exercising.More >> When a classmate commits suicide, teens are more likely to consider or attempt suicide themselves, according to a new study. More >> When a classmate commits suicide, teens are more likely to consider or attempt suicide themselves, according to a new study. More >> Pregnant women with specific alterations in two genes may be at increased risk of suffering depression after giving birth, a small new study suggests.More >> Pregnant women with specific alterations in two genes may be at increased risk of suffering depression after giving birth, a small new study suggests.More >> Although spring arrived late this year in parts of the United States, the summer allergy season will still be strong, according to a sinus expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.More >> Although spring arrived late this year in parts of the United States, the summer allergy season will still be strong, according to a sinus expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.More >>
by Michelle Mortensen
David Davis hates being cooped up in a hospital bed. He'd rather be out fishing. But excruciating pain in his leg is keeping him from enjoying life.
"You just get to where you can't walk very far."
Mr. Davis suffers from peripheral artery disease, or P.A.D.. Several of the arteries in his leg are clogged up with plaque, causing him severe pain.
"Very painful, very painful. Your whole calf feels tight and you just have to sit down."
For years he just lived with the pain, but thanks to new technology, Mr. Davis will be pain free in just a few hours. His doctor, Jeffrey Carr, will remove the plaque from his arteries with a tiny catheter that has a small blade inside no larger than a grain of rice.
"It shaves off the blockage and puts it in the tube and removes it from the body."
Dr. Carr says this new method of cleaning out arteries in the leg is more effective than any other option available today. Plus, it's fast. As soon as the plaque is gone, blood starts flowing freely, which means when Mr. Davis wakes up, he should be pain free.
There’s another benefit, too.
"The patient can go home the same day or the following day."
And that's good news for Mr. Davis who can't wait to walk and get back to the great outdoors.
"Hopefully, I'll get to go fishing."
