To help patients uncover their risk for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), Porter Health Care System offers a free national screening program called Legs for Life at Porter Regional Hospital located at 85 East US Highway 6 in Valparaiso. The quick and painless screening measures the circulation in both legs to detect the disease.
PAD affects nearly 12 million in the U.S. annually and is most common in people over the age of 50, those who smoke, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. The disease causes blood vessels outside of the heart to narrow when plaque builds up on the walls of arteries that supply blood to the arms and legs. PAD can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Many people who have PAD don’t exhibit any symptoms. If you do experience symptoms, they may include pain, cramping and fatigue in the legs while walking, or skin discoloration and pain in the feet.
To schedule your free Legs for Life screening, call 219-983-LEGS (5347).
