Seventeen

metro Atlanta hosptitals will conduct free leg screening

programs for people who are suffering leg pain to

determine if they are at risk for a common condition

known as peripheral vascular disease.

PVD, which

affects tens of thousands of Americans, is caused by

blocked blood flow in the arteries of the legs and can

cause pain or swelling, difficulty walking, numbness and

skin discoloration.

Fayette

Community Hospital will have a screening Saturday, Sept.

18. The Legs for Life screening program is not a complete

medical exam but it is intended to help identify people

who have risk factors for PVD and to refer them to their

own physicians. Participants will be asked to fill out a

questionnaire and information form to help determine

their risk for PVD.

A brief

screening exam will involve taking the person's arm and

ankle blood pressure to further assess the potential for

disease.

Vascular

disease such as PVD is most common among men and women

above age 50, people suffering from diabetes, people who

smoke and people with high blood pressure or high

cholesterol levels. PVD starts so quietly, however, that

many people may not recognize they have a problem. Many

people think that they are simply feeling the natural

efects of aging.

Early

detection and treatment of vascular disease is important.

The earlier it is identified and treated, the better the

chance that the condition can be controlled with

exercise, diet improvement and, if the person smokes,

smoking cessation.

An

appointment is required to attend the screening. Call

770-541-1111. For information on Legs for Life or PVD

call 404-605-LEGS.

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