Dear Dr. SerVaas: I read with interest the article "Keeping Healthy Legs for Life." Can yon tell me where in the Kansas City, Missouri, area I could get the free test for peripheral vascular disease (PVD)?
Betty Lamb
Grain Valley, Kansas
Dear Reader: Beginning in August, interested readers can find the nearest PVD screening sites by calling toll-free 877-3572847 or by visiting www.legsforlife.org. The free tests will take place September 22-28 across the country.
Ten million Americans have PVD, a potentially fatal disease caused by blocked blood flow to the arteries of the legs. Symptoms include leg or hip pain when walking, numbness, and a color change in skin of legs or feet.
A ten-minute exam compares the person's arm and ankle blood pressure to determine his or her risk for PVD. The condition can often be treated in its early stages through lifestyle changes and medication.
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