A brief screening exam will include arm and ankle blood pressure checks to further assess the potential of disease. People who appear to be at moderate or high risk for PAD will be advised to see their physicians for additional evaluation. Vascular disease such as PAD is most common among men and women over age 50 who are suffering from diabetes, who smoke and who have high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. PAD begins so quietly that some people may not realize they have a problem.
Many people think their leg aches are simply due to the natural effects of aging.
Early detection and treatment of vascular disease is important. The earlier it is identified and treated, the better a person's chance of controlling it with exercise, improved diet and, if the person smokes, smoking cessation. The Legs for Life screening program is not a complete medical exam but is intended to help identify people who have risk factors for PAD and to refer them to their own physicians.