4 SIGNS OF PAD THAT YOU CAN'T IGNORE---AND WHY A VASCULAR SURGEON IS THE ANSWER
You’re walking to the mailbox when your legs start aching. Your feet feel cold even in socks. That cut on your shin? Still there after a month. These aren’t random annoyances—they’re signs of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a sneaky condition where blocked arteries starve your legs of life giving oxygen and nutrients. Ignoring them could cost you big—think infections or worse. The fix? A vascular surgeon. Let’s break down the four signs you can’t miss and why Dr Kokinos and her team at South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute may be your answer.
The Big Four Signs
PAD doesn’t shout—it whispers. Here’s what to listen for:
- Leg pain at night or walking—a heavy, tired feeling that won’t quit.
- Cold or discolored feet—toes turning pale or blue mean trouble.
- Non-healing wounds—sores that linger way too long.
- Weak pulses in your feet—hard for you to check, but a pro can tell.
Seeing one or more? PAD might be knocking.
PAD vs. Venous Disease: Know the Difference
Don’t mix up PAD with venous problems. PAD clogs arteries, cutting off oxygen to your legs. Venous disease messes with veins, causing swelling or varicose veins. PAD’s the serious one—linked to diabetes and kidney failure. Too many think it’s “just circulation.” It’s not. It’s a call for expert help.
Dr Polyxene Kokinos: A Board Certified Vascular Surgeon
Your heart doctor or imaging specialist might try, but vascular surgeons own this game. Trained at Columbia University Medical School, UCSF General Surgery and Washington University in St Louis, Dr Kokinos' 30 year career has been entirely focused on diagnosing and treating circulatory related illnesses. The Journal of Vascular Surgery proves Vascular Surgeons outshine others when it comes to treating peripheral arterial disease—fewer setbacks, better fixes.
South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute: Santa Clara’s Trusted Answer to PAD
Picture this: A surgeon who’s studied at elite institutions, spent almost three decades building trust with referring physicians and treating patients with unmatched care is located right here in the South Bay area. As an independent practitioner, she’s dedicated her entire career to treating local patients in our community; not red tape. Her focus is on her community. That's why Dr Kokinos still takes call and treats patients at all the local area hospitals: Good Samaritan, O'Connor, El Camino Los Gatos and El Camino Mt. View. No other vascular surgeon in the area can make that claim and her track record—limbs saved, lives changed—makes her the most trusted around. She’s your answer to PAD’s quiet threats.
Act Early, Win Big
Catch those signs early, and you’ve got options. Dr Kokinos can help you modify lifestyle—more walking, less smoking—or prescribe meds. If the problem turns out to be more serious that originally expected, Dr Kokinos has your back as well. She's the best in the region leveraging outpatient surgical techniques like stents or bypasses to get you back on your feet. Thanks to modern tech and her years of experience you wont be handed a referral slip and told to start all over with another doctor. Wait too long, and PAD could mean amputation. With her, early action wins.
Don’t Ignore the Signs
Those four signs aren’t quirks—they’re PAD’s warning lights. Don’t wait—get checked now. Next time you visit your primary care physician make sure to "Take off your socks and show them your toes". Ask them for a referral to Dr Kokinos at South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute. Visit us at www.southbayvascular.com to learn more about Dr Kokinos' practice. We can help! 408-376-3626.