Erik Paulsen: “September is Peripheral Artery Disease-- or PAD--Awareness Month. PAD is a vascular disease that impacts as many as 18…”

“September is Peripheral Artery Disease-- or PAD--Awareness Month. PAD is a vascular disease that impacts as many as 18 million Americans. Narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs, like your legs, and in very serious cases leads to amputation, which dramatically alters a patient's life and significantly increases healthcare costs. There are 180,000 amputations performed in the United States every year, and too many of them are unnecessary. More than 30 percent of patients who experienced an amputation had no arterial testing before their limb was removed. Studies have shown that diagnosing and treating patients with PAD with early intervention is directly associated with lower rates of amputation. By supporting screening for at-risk populations and promoting multidisciplinary care with arterial testing, we can prevent amputation. It will improve lives, reduce patient mortality, and save billions of dollars in healthcare spending. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to learn more about the impact of PAD and recognize the need for a comprehensive strategy to eliminate nontraumatic amputations. ____________________”