The Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Radiology will conduct free screenings for people suffering from leg pain to determine if they are at risk for peripheral vascular disease, a common condition affecting thousands of Hoosiers. The department will sponsor free screenings from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 14, in room 3600, at Indiana University Hospital. PVD is a medical condition in which arteries in the leg can become narrowed or blocked. Untreated, walking can become difficult due to pain, numbness or muscle weakness.
Skin ulcers can develop and in severe cases, gangrene can set in, possibly resulting in amputation.
The disease starts quietly and many sufferers wrongly conclude that the pain and weakness in their legs are normal signs of aging. PVD is most common in those 50 years of age and older and factors that might aggravate the condition are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and being overweight. The screening program is fast, free and painless. Blood pressure measurements are taken in the arm and both ankles to assess the diseases potential. Those who appear to be at moderate or high risk will be advised to consult their primary physician for additional evaluation and testing.