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Know Better, Do Better: Adopting Healthy Lifestyles for Amputation Prevention
Black Americans are twice as likely to develop pulmonary artery disease (PAD) – a leading cause of lower limb amputation – as any other race. The sky-high amputation rates in African American communities continue to soar, largely because these populations are underserved and lack access to quality wound care. What’s more, there’s not enough being done to sensitize Black and African American populations to the benefits of healthy lifestyles. Still, raising awareness on the detrimental effect of unhealthy lifestyles remains the cornerstone of the strategy to overcome the lower limb amputation scourge among Black and African American populations.
Healthy Living Through Diet
Healthy eating equals healthy living. The long-term dietary goal should be to maintain a healthy weight. Food historian, Adrian Miller, encourages moderation as one sure way to combat unhealthy diets among Blacks. Further, he advises reserving certain foods only for celebrations and not as a daily meal.
Eat a healthy diet of fruits, whole grains, lean meats, leafy vegetables, and fibers. Fibers help slow the absorption of sugar and lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients. They are also more filling and energy-rich. Fiber-rich foods interfere with the absorption of dietary fat and cholesterol aiding in the management of blood pressure.
Avoid sugar-sweetened juice and soda. Sugar-sweetened beverages are mostly high in calories with little to no nutrition value. PAD patients should avoid these types of drinks as they risk limb loss. The exception is people with low blood sugar levels. In such a case, these beverages are effective treatments for quickly raising blood sugar levels.
Exercise and Weight Loss
Physical activity helps lower sugar levels and boost sensitivity to insulin. It’s recommended to exercise for at least 30 minutes daily. Diabetes and PAD patients should regularly check blood sugar levels before, during, and after exercise, especially if taking insulin or medications to lower blood sugar. A physician can customize the most suitable exercise plan.
Obesity increases the risk of PAD. Obese patients are 3-5 times more likely to develop limb ischemia – a severe complication of PAD – which if not managed leads to lower limb amputation. Advocating for proper weight management helps lower the amputation rate among African Americans. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with prediabetes lose at least 7% to 10% of their body weight to prevent disease progression. More weight loss will translate into even greater benefits.
Quit Smoking
Smokers are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with PAD. While the disease can affect anyone, a study found that of 1,272 patients with PAD, 90% were either current or former smokers. If the smoking habit persists this disease slowly starves the toes, feet, and legs of oxygen which can lead to gangrene and limb amputation in severe cases.
The only option for amputation prevention is to quit smoking. Nicotine found in cigarettes raises blood pressure and is a vasoconstrictor – makes the arteries smaller. Pumping blood through the constricted arteries becomes harder and the body, in turn, releases stores of fat and cholesterol into the blood.
Moderate Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol makes the blood sugar either too high or too low. The liver is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. This process can be interfered with if the liver is busy metabolizing alcohol.
Moderate alcohol consumption is defined as no more than one drink a day for women of any age and men over 65 years old and two drinks a day for men under 65. One drink equals a 12-ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.
Alcoholic beverages like dry wine and light beers have fewer calories and carbohydrates than other drinks. A good practice is including calories from an alcoholic drink in the daily calorie count.
Stress Management
Stress has been linked to hypertension and high blood sugar levels. When stressed, the insulin levels fall, glucagon and adrenaline levels increase and more glucose is released from the liver. Cortisol levels also increase, making the body tissues less sensitive to insulin. This results in high blood sugar levels - a risk factor for limb loss.
Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or hobbies often help relieve stress. Socialization reduces anxiety, stress, and improves mental functioning. Working with a psychologist or clinical social worker aids in identifying stressors or learning coping skills.
Other Healthy Lifestyle Habits
It’s recommended to sleep 7-8 hours every night for healthy living and keep a regular sleep-wake cycle. Regular checkups with the primary care physician for wound care and examination. Medications such as insulin should be taken regularly as directed by a doctor to manage diseases that are risk factors for lower limb amputation.
The Role of Technology in Amputation Prevention
The Wound Docs is taking the front row in the amputation prevention battle by bringing together Black healthcare professionals such as podiatrists, vascular surgeons, and wound care specialists throughout the nation. The Wound Docs is also leveraging the power of advanced technologies such as AI and advanced biologics (skin substitutes) to significantly improve patient outcomes in wound care for African Americans.
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