Free screening program to reduce diabetes related amputation
A new screening program is being started in the U.S to detect Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD).
What is PAD?
Arteries carry blood to various organs in our body. When there is a blockage in the arteries, the blood circulation in the body gets affected. Arteries get blocked when cholestrol builds up around them forming a substance called plaque causing atherosclerosis which ultimately results in PAD.
Atherosclerosis develops systematically over a period of time. The plaque that gets built up slowly, starts affecting the smaller arteries first, such as the ones in the legs. This decreases the flow of blood to the legs, which ultimately results in gangrene and amputation. Note that this plaque could spread to other parts of the body and could ultimately result in blocking the arteries to heart and even brain. I think you can imagine the situation. PAD results in death in about one third of the patients.
The new screening program, called as Legs For Life, detects PAD in early stages . In this screening , an ankle brachial index (ABI) test is used to detect PAD. It compares the blood pressure in the legs to the blood pressure in the arms to determine the smoothness of flow of blood. It is painless and quick. Early detection of PAD will help dealing with it effectively and reduce the chances of amputation by half.
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