Donald M. Payne: “September is Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month. Known as PAD, it is a life-threatening and chronic circulatory…”

“September is Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month. Known as PAD, it is a life-threatening and chronic circulatory condition. It causes blood vessels from the heart to the legs to narrow, slows or blocks blood from getting into the legs of sufferers, and could lead to unnecessary amputation. Far too little is known about an illness that afflicts almost 20 million Americans today and could lead to 3.6 million Americans losing a leg in the next 30 years, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. It is a personal battle for me as an African American who suffers from diabetes. The disease is three times more likely to affect African Americans, and diabetes is one of the high-risk factors. Fortunately, it is easy to prevent. That is why I started the Congressional PAD Caucus in the House with my colleague, Gus Bilirakis from Florida. Amputation is one of the most physically and emotionally damaging injuries a person can experience, especially if it is unnecessary. We need to focus more attention and resources to a problem with a clear solution and save sufferers and families an unnecessary trauma. ____________________”