To Prevent Heart Attack, Stroke, Amputation, and Death: A National “PAD Coalition” Is Formed
Vascular Disease Foundation spearheads new multiorganizational group to educate public, clinicians about Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD).
DENVER, CO (PRWEB) August 7, 2004 -- The Vascular Disease Foundation has
taken the lead in creating a unique Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Coalition
in partnership with 14 other major national public health organizations and
professional vascular societies. At its inaugural meeting, the Coalition
identified as a top priority the need for a unified, long-term national public
awareness campaign about peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Another priority
area is to coordinate PAD educational efforts to clinicians. These activities
will be designed to improve the clinical outcomes of individuals with PAD. The
inaugural meeting of the PAD Coalition was held on the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) campus in Bethesda, MD, on June 17, 2004, in cooperation with the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the NIH.
This
important day-long meeting brought together vascular healthcare professionals
from around the country to create the Coalition’s structure. The Coalition was
first conceived of at a strategic planning meeting held in January 2003, at
which initial consensus was reached and the rationale underlying the goals of
such a national PAD awareness campaign was solidified. The PAD Coalition is
co-chaired by Alan T. Hirsch, M.D., past-president of the Vascular Disease
Foundation, and Marge Lovell, RN, CCRC, CVN, a current officer of the
Foundation.
“Individuals with PAD have traditionally not enjoyed the
healthcare opportunities afforded individuals with established heart disease.
The beneficial impact of the Coalition and its public education campaign is thus
expected to be particularly powerful”, said Dr. Hirsch, who added that members
of every major PAD-focused healthcare organization will be working together to
design accurate, science-based, PAD-focused educational
messages.
Ms. Lovell said, “We should emphasize
that the establishment of this unique vascular Coalition is precedent-setting,
permitting us to amplify our common mission of serving the public.”
In
addition to the Vascular Disease Foundation, participating organizations include
the American Association for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation;
American College of Cardiology; American College of Physicians; American
Diabetes Association; American Heart Association; American Podiatric Medical
Association; American Radiological Nurses Association; Peripheral Vascular
Surgery Society; Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery; Society of
Interventional Radiology; Society for Vascular Medicine and Biology; Society for
Vascular Nursing; Society for Vascular Surgery; and the Society of Vascular
Ultrasound.
PAD is a highly prevalent disease characterized by blockages
in the arteries of the legs. Individuals with PAD face a markedly increased risk
of heart attack, stroke, and death. The build-up of plaque is usually a result
of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries – the same condition that leads
to heart artery blockages and heart attack. PAD affects 8-12 million Americans,
and one in every five people over the age of 70 has the disease. Advanced age,
smoking, diabetes, high blood cholesterol and hypertension are key risk factors.
The most common and easily recognized symptom of PAD is discomfort, fatigue, or
pain that occurs in the buttock, thigh, or calf muscles when walking, and that
is promptly relieved with rest. This symptom is called “claudication”.
Unfortunately, current data
suggest that less than one-half of individuals
with PAD do not know they have the disease and its corresponding increased risk
of death. This is believed to be because many individuals with PAD do not
experience typical leg symptoms. Additionally, the use of accurate and safe
diagnostic tests for PAD remains relatively uncommon in most primary office
practices. Early diagnosis of PAD can offer an opportunity to treat risk factors
that can slow the progression of the disease and decrease the chance of a heart
attack or stroke. Other treatments can decrease leg symptoms, prevent
amputation, and improve quality of life.
About the Vascular Disease
Foundation:
The Vascular Disease Foundation is a nonprofit, public
educational organization dedicated to increasing awareness of the prevention,
diagnosis and management of vascular diseases. Its outstanding board of
directors includes physicians, nurses, vascular sonographers, rehabilitation
professionals, and clinical researchers who have been on the forefront of
fighting vascular diseases for many years.
For more information on the
Vascular Disease Foundation, or on vascular diseases, call 1-866-723-4636 or
visit www.vdf.org.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/8/prweb147348.htm