According
to the American Heart Association, some 18 million Americans suffer
with PAD disease, peripheral artery disease, which when left
untreated can lead to the end results of amputation and possibly
early death. As many Americans are unfamiliar with this disease, the
need of awareness is great for the early detection and treatment is
critical for this life-threatening disease. PAD is a disease that
causes the blood vessels to narrow, which in turn can cause pain,
open sores or even gangrene. Today the Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
put out a press release that they will launch a awareness campaign
and advocacy program throughout the month of September, which will
educate Americans about what PAD is, the treatment options available
and the risk of leaving it untreated.
Their
main goal, however, is to reduce the number of amputations due to
this disease and will launch a website under the title of “Take a Stand against Amputation” with the hopes of reducing the number of
amputations within three years. The website is designed to not only
inform and educate patients but to help non-specialized PAD
physicians to recognize the disease and the risk involved to the
patient. According to one lead vascular surgeon at TriStar
Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, Dr. Bryan
Fisher, great strides have been made in the treatment of PAD disease
that can lessen the chances of amputation for patients.
Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. would like to reduce the number of
amputations to under 100,000 with the use of new treatments now
available to patients.
It
has been shown that about 3.5 million have critical limb ischemia,
the severe and most dangerous form of PAD and that each year,
approximately 180,000 Americans undergo amputation procedures. This
is why Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. will work throughout September,
PAD Awareness Month, to inform the American public of the importance
of proper diagnosis and treatment plans that are available to
properly treat the symptoms of Pad, which can include symptoms like
pain while walking, wounds that won't heal, nighttime leg pain,
numbness or burning, and dry skin with discoloration, to be aware
that heart disease, diabetes in which one in three patients over 50
have a greater risk of amputation, kidney disease and aging increases
the risk for PAD. Patients must learn when and how to communicate
with their doctor on the subject and not to be afraid to get a second
opinion from a PAD specialized physician.
