Southaven, Miss., Aug. 12, 2005 – Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto will host Legs for Life, a screening and educational event about peripheral artery disease, on Friday, Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the hospital’s DeSoto Room, located at 7601 Southcrest Parkway.

The event, sponsored by the Society of Interventional Radiology, will offer free ankle brachial index tests, which compare the blood pressure in the legs to the blood pressure in the arms to determine how well blood is flowing. Anyone who wants to get tested must provide the name of a physician who can receive the results. Appointments are required for the Legs for Life event. Please call (800) 4-BAPTIST or (901) 227-8478 to reserve a space.

PAD, which affects 8 to 10 million people in the United States, increases the risk for heart attack, stroke and loss of limbs. Although PAD can develop at any age, it affects 12-20 percent of Americans age 65 and older. PAD develops most commonly as a result of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which occurs when fatty material builds up in arteries. The clogged arteries decrease blood flow to the legs, which can result in pain when walking, gangrene and possibly amputation of limbs. People with PAD are likely to have blocked arteries in other areas of the body. PAD can be prevented and treated.

For more information about Legs for Life, visit www.legsforlife.org.

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