Peripheral Artery Disease

Seventy-year old Steve Johnson is getting his blood pressure checked, not just on his arms, but he’s having his leg pressure checked as well because he suffers from what is known as P.A.D. EMILE R. MOHLER, M.D., director, Vascular Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System: "P.A.D. is a narrowing artery in the leg that can cause not only trouble with walking-muscle pain, discomfort – but can also double the risk of heart attack or stroke." The symptoms for P.A.D. can be different for everybody. From heavy or tired legs after exercising, to no symptoms at all. But for Mr. Johnson it was his leg pain that was too painful to ignore. STEVE JOHNSON, 70-year-old, Peripheral Artery Disease sufferer: "I would walk a block and I would get pains in my calves. Both legs, left and right, and that was one of the first symptoms and if I continued walking the pain would get greater." P.A.D. is detected by taking the blood pressure of the legs and arms. EMILE R. MOHLER, M.D., director, Vascular Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System: "The arm and leg pressure should be equal if you have a decrease in the leg pressure you have a blockage in the leg which indicates you have P.A.D." To help raise awareness, the P.A.D. coalition has launched a campaign featuring Phylicia Rashad — who has lost several family members to the disease. PHYLICIA RASHAD, actor: "I want everyone to be aware of it. Testing for P.A.D. will become a regular part of a routine visit to your doctor. Just like taking your blood pressure is a regular part of that visit." Risk factors include those over age 50 with a history of diabetes or smoking. High cholesterol or high blood pressure, and anyone over age 70.